Australia cautions airlines about live-fire drills by Chinese navy

Australia issued warnings to international airlines flying between its airports and New Zealand regarding a potential live-fire exercise by the Chinese navy in the Tasman Sea. This warning was prompted by three Chinese warships conducting exercises off the Australian east coast. On February 21, 2025, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that Airservices Australia had alerted commercial pilots to the hazard created by these military operations. Several airlines, including Qantas and Air New Zealand, had to modify flight paths to avoid the area, a move that affected its operations. The Australian government has expressed concerns over China's notification process, citing that the short notice caused considerable disruption. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that while China provided an alert as per international practice, it was shorter than what is typically expected for such military exercises. Australia engaged in discussions with China about the need for greater transparency regarding naval drills, especially those involving live ammunition. Despite the concerns, it was clarified by defense officials that there was no imminent danger posed to Australian or New Zealand assets during these exercises.