Aircraft travelling between Australia and New Zealand have been rerouted due to a significant military exercise being conducted by China in adjacent waters, which is reported to include live fire activities potentially.
Three Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea have raised alarms in Australia and New Zealand, prompting Australia to describe the situation as “unusual.”
Qantas, the Australian airline, informed the BBC that it has “temporarily adjusted” its flight routes, which other carriers are said to have followed.
China has stated that the exercise in international waters complies with international law.
Reports indicate that the ships are currently 340 nautical miles east of Australia’s New South Wales coast. At one point, they were reportedly approaching nearly 150 nautical miles from Sydney.
Australia and New Zealand have been actively tracking the movements of a Chinese fleet, which includes a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply tanker, since last week. In response, they have sent their own vessels to monitor the situation.
In a statement earlier this week, New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed concern over China’s lack of communication regarding deploying warships to the region. She noted that China “has not deigned to advise us on what they are doing in the Tasman Sea,” as the New Zealand Herald reported.
In a recent statement, Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles remarked that the presence of the ships is “not unprecedented, but it is an unusual event”.
On Friday, China’s foreign ministry announced that the country was conducting naval training and exercises in what they called “distant waters.”
Spokesman Guo Jiakun stated, “The exercises were carried out in a safe, standard, and professional manner at all times, adhering to relevant international laws and practices.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia announced on Friday that the Chinese fleet had issued a warning regarding the commencement of exercises that could include live fire activities.
“This activity has taken place in waters that align with international law… there has been no immediate threat to any Australian or New Zealand assets,” he stated.
Marles stated that Chinese officials did not directly inform their Australian counterparts when the alert was issued.
“China issued a notification indicating its intention to conduct live fire exercises, a message received by airlines, including commercial flights traversing the Tasman Sea,” he stated in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He noted that alerts are typically provided 12 to 24 hours before the event.
On Friday, Chinese authorities allegedly notified an Emirates flight en route from Sydney to Christchurch regarding an exercise while still airborne. The BBC is in pursuit of confirmation.
As reported by the BBC, Qantas has officially announced a modification to the flight paths of its aircraft traversing the Tasman Sea. The airline emphasised its ongoing surveillance of the airspace in question.
The organisation stated, “We continue to collaborate with the Australian government and the wider industry to monitor the situation closely.”
Reports indicate that Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have taken similar actions.
The drill occurred shortly after Australia and China engaged in a defence dialogue in Beijing, during which military transparency and communication were discussed.
Recent maritime encounters between the two countries have been marked by heightened tension.
Earlier this month, officials in Canberra reported that a Chinese fighter jet had deployed flares in the path of an Australian military aircraft during a flight over the South China Sea. Beijing has accused the plane of ” intentionally intruding” into its airspace.
In May of the previous year, Australia levelled accusations against a Chinese fighter jet, alleging that it had released flares in proximity to an Australian navy helicopter engaged in a United Nations Security Council mission over the Yellow Sea.
