A Chinese naval task group has reportedly conducted live-fire naval exercises in international waters off Australia’s eastern coast without prior notification, Australian authorities said Friday.
The group, comprising a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply vessel, was first detected approximately 150 nautical miles from Sydney. Australia and New Zealand had been monitoring the group for at least a week.
The fleet’s presence and subsequent live-fire drills were not formally communicated to Australian authorities. Instead, commercial pilots received real-time warnings from the Chinese military, prompting immediate flight path alterations to ensure safety.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said that planes were “literally flying across the Tasman” when China issued a warning.
MILITARY UPDATE: China’s navy conducted a rare live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand today, forcing multiple airlines to divert flights after providing short notice of the operation. Three Chinese warships, including a frigate, cruiser, and… pic.twitter.com/KXf4DC0KsX
— The Risk Intelligence Group (@riskintelgroup) February 21, 2025
Marles criticized the insufficient notice provided by China, saying that such exercises typically warrant a 12 to 24-hour advance notification to minimize disruptions.
He emphasized that while the drills occurred within international waters and were legally permissible, the absence of timely communication posed unnecessary risks to civilian air traffic.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reassured the public that there was no imminent threat to Australian or New Zealand assets. However, he acknowledged the need for improved transparency and communication to prevent future incidents.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement issued late Friday, Australia’s Department of Defence stated it detected no live firing from Chinese naval ships off its east coast, despite the vessels broadcasting a warning that caused commercial flights to be diverted.
The department said any live firing by the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) has “most likely ceased.”
“No weapon firings were heard or seen, however, a floating surface firing target was deployed by the PLA-N and subsequently recovered,” the statement added.
