By Mike Foley
China has conducted the second live-firing exercise from a warship in two days in the waters between Australia and New Zealand.
The most recent incident follows the Albanese government’s declaration that China had failed to answer for its lack of notice, after the first event caused commercial flights to divert their routes.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
A Defence spokesperson said that a Chinese warship had advised via radio of live firing activity on Saturday and the situation was being monitored.
“Defence is working with Air Services Australia to minimise the impact of activities on commercial airlines and maritime vessels.”
The Chinese navy is operating in international waters and is complying with international law. However, it is understood questions remain about the period of notice given before firing commenced, and notification to mariners or aviation authorities.
New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins’ office said that one of her nation’s Navy frigates observed live rounds being fired, and that the Chinese warship had advised of the activity via radio.
“The safety of all people, aircraft and vessels in the area remains our paramount concern,” Collins’ office said in the statement, Stuff reported.
“Our concerns regarding notification times and best practise when undertaking military exercises stand, and will be communicated appropriately.”
Speaking earlier on Saturday, Defence Minister Richard Marles said that, following the first incident on Friday, China must explain its failure to provide sufficient notice for the exercise, which has been branded a provocative act by defence experts.
This masthead reported on Friday that Qantas said both it and budget offshoot Jetstar temporarily adjusted some flights across the Tasman after receiving warnings of the drills, adding that it was working with the Australian government and broader industry to monitor the situation. Virgin and Emirates flights to New Zealand also received warnings about the exercises.
“It’s just that there was no notice,” Marles told ABC television. “I don’t think we have a satisfactory answer from China in relation to this.”
Speaking on Saturday in Tasmania, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reasserted that China had complied with international law, and that no Australian assets had been placed in danger, but confirmed that the government was seeking answers about the incident.
“We believe it would be appropriate to have been given more warning of this potential event taking place,” Albanese said.
Marles said that the incident had not breached international law, but contrasted the Chinese military exercise, conducted 640 kilometres east of Eden on the NSW South Coast, with Australian procedures that prioritise safety for commercial activities.
“They [China] did so with very little notice and that was the issue that was very disconcerting for the airlines involved,” Marles said.
“We [Australia] would typically give 12 to 24 hours’ notice, which enables aircraft that are going to potentially be in the vicinity to make plans to fly around.
“It’s the responsibility of any navy, any military, to make sure when you then do undertake any live firing you are doing so in a manner which is safe relative to any commercial traffic, be it sea or air, which is in the vicinity.”
Defence sources told this masthead the Chinese military had informed Australian authorities on Friday it would conduct live fire exercises later that day, which prompted a hasty 18-kilometre airspace protection zone being established, up to a height of 45,000 feet.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, speaking after the incident, said the drill was carried out “in a safe, standard and professional manner in accordance with relevant international law and international practice”.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday she would discuss it with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the government asked for information from Chinese authorities.
The latest incident comes a week after a dangerous encounter between the Australian and Chinese militaries in the South China Sea.
Flight tracking data showed Qantas flight QF121 deviated from its flight path less than an hour into its journey over the Tasman from Sydney to Queenstown late on Friday morning, as did Emirates flight EK412 from Sydney to Christchurch.
FlightAware radar showing the Qantas flight diversion.Credit: FlightAware
Qantas would not confirm whether QF121’s deviation was due to the risk posed by the Chinese warships’ live fire exercise.
Crew on the NZ frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, which was shadowing the Chinese ships, reported observing behaviour “consistent with a live fire activity” and monitored the Chinese ships deploying and recovering a floating target.
The NZ crew did not report observing any firing on the target and said there was no indication of any surface-to-air firing.
“This is more about disruption caused rather than risk,” a Defence source said.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) said earlier this week it was keeping close watch on three Chinese military ships that had been spotted just 150 nautical miles (277 kilometres) from Sydney after moving steadily down the east coast of Australia over recent days.
Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie on Friday said the exercise was “gunboat diplomacy to test US allies like Australia”.
“The Chinese government has built a blue-water navy to project power into the Pacific region. They are now using gunboat diplomacy to test US allies like Australia.
“When will the prime minister and his defence minister stand up for the Australian national interest and insist on mutual respect from their Chinese counterparts?”
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