- China conducts military exercise in Tasman Sea
- Australia, NZ divert planes, dispatch ships to monitor
- Exercise may involve live fire, sparking regional concerns
A closely watched military exercise by China in the Tasman Sea has prompted Australia and New Zealand to divert planes and dispatch their own ships to monitor the situation. The rare presence of three Chinese naval ships in the region has put both countries on alert, with Australia describing it as “unusual”.
The Chinese fleet, consisting of a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply tanker, is currently located 340 nautical miles east of the New South Wales coast of Australia. However, they had come as close as 150 nautical miles from Sydney at one point, sparking concerns among Australian authorities.
Australian airline Qantas confirmed that it had “temporarily adjusted” the routes of its planes flying between Australia and New Zealand, while other carriers, including Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand, have reportedly done the same.
China has maintained that the exercise, which may involve live fire, is being conducted in accordance with international law. “The exercises were conducted in a safe, standard, and professional manner at all times, in accordance with relevant international laws and practices,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.
However, Australian authorities have expressed concerns over the lack of direct notification from China regarding the exercise. “What China did was put out a notification that it was intending to engage in live fire, and by that I mean a broadcast that was picked up by airlines, literally commercial planes that were flying across the Tasman,” said Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.
The incident comes just days after Australia and China held a defence dialogue in Beijing, where they discussed military transparency and communication. The two countries have had several recent tense maritime encounters, including an incident earlier this month where a Chinese fighter jet released flares in front of an Australian military aircraft over the South China Sea.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played down the incident, saying that the Chinese fleet’s presence was “activity that has occurred in waters consistent with international law… there has been no imminent risk of danger to any Australian assets or New Zealand assets”.
However, the incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between Australia and China, with many calling for greater transparency and communication between the two nations.
