Chinese Navy’s Live-Fire Exercise Diverts Flights Between Australia and New Zealand

Sydney, Australia — Commercial flights between Australia and New Zealand were diverted Friday following an unexpected alert of live-fire exercises being conducted by the Chinese Navy in the Tasman Sea. The situation raised alarms among aviation and defense officials in both countries.

Chinese naval vessels, including a frigate, a cruiser, and a replenishment ship, notified aviation authorities of their live-fire drills occurring approximately 346 nautical miles off the coast of New South Wales. The alert was broadcast on a civil aviation frequency, leading to immediate course changes for flights within the region, including notable carriers such as Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed concern over the inadequate notice provided by Chinese authorities regarding the military exercises, calling it a significant safety oversight. “The PLA Navy did not inform Defence of its intent to conduct live-fire activity and has not provided any further information about the drills,” she stated.

Initially detected last week, the Chinese task force had come as close as 150 nautical miles from Sydney before heading south. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles commented, “They complied with international law in terms of providing notice, but it was very short notice and put commercial planes in a disconcerting circumstance.”

The situation forced an Emirates flight from Sydney to Christchurch to alter its course and was among the aircraft that received the urgent warning while in mid-flight. An Emirates spokesperson explained, “When a change in air space activity was detected, the flight deck crew made a slight routing deviation as per standard industry protocol and in conjunction with air traffic control to maintain optimal safety margins.”

New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins confirmed that the Royal New Zealand Navy closely monitored the activity, stating there was no ongoing threat to their region. Collins remarked, “Like Australia, our primary concern is the safety of our people, vessels, and aircraft.”

These exercises come following a series of recent tensions between Australia and China, including previous incidents of unprofessional interactions involving Chinese military aircraft. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated earlier that there was no immediate danger to Australian or New Zealand assets from the Chinese naval vessels.

Chinese officials defended their military actions, insisting the drills were conducted in a safe and professional manner, compliant with international maritime laws. However, as the situation continues to evolve, regional tensions remain heightened with concerns over China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

In light of the incident, Wong is expected to address the matter with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at an upcoming G20 meeting, emphasizing the need for greater transparency regarding military operations in the region.