Commercial pilots warned after Chinese warships spotted off Sydney

Defence has provided a significant update after commercial flights were warned after China warships undertook live fire testing in waters off Australia.

China did not formally inform the Defence its three warships off Australian waters were to undertake live fire testing, which forced a warning to commercial flights in the area.

Defence last week revealed it was monitoring two People’s Liberation Army-navy (PLA-N) frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea off Queensland, as the ships conducted military exercises.

The vessels have since moved to off Eden, off the south coast of NSW.

On Friday, it emerged the vessels had conducted live fire testing, leading to AirServices Australia issuing a warning to commercial aircraft to avoid the area.

However, in a statement late on Friday, the Australian Defence Force said there had been no official warning from the Chinese vessels, which it said was contrary to ‘best practice’.

“Defence is aware of Task Group 107 advising by verbal radio broadcast on a civil aircraft channel of its intent on 21 February 2025 to conduct live firing activity in the Tasman Sea, 346 nautical miles (640km) off Eden,” Defence said.

“Airservices Australia issued a Hazard Advisory.

“The PLA-N did not inform Defence of its intent to conduct a live fire activity, and has not provided any further information.”

Three Australian warships are lurking off Australia's east coast. Picture: NewsWire / Australian Defence Force

Late on Friday afternoon, it emerged commercial pilots had been warned of a potential hazard in airspace between Australia and New Zealand after the three Chinese warships in the area undertook live fire exercise.

Anthony Albanese said the vessels had issued an alert they would be conducting exercises including potential live fire.

“This is activity that has occurred in waters consistent with international law,” the Prime Minister told reporters on Friday afternoon.

“There has been no risk of danger to any Australian assets or New Zealand assets.”

But later, Defence clarified that although the Chinese warships had issued a radio warning to aircraft, they had not informed Defence of “its intent to conduct a live fire activity, and has not provided any further information.”

Normally, Defence said “best practice” would include issuing Notice to Airmen or Notice to Mariners, “which the Australian Defence Force would typically release 24 to 48 hours prior to a live firing activity on the high seas”.

The diversion an Emirates flight had to perform over the Tasman Sea. Picture: FlightAware.

“Defence is not aware of a Notice to Airmen or Notice to Mariners for this activity having been submitted or requested by the PLA-N,” Defence said.

“That formation has now reverted to normal indicating that the live fire activity has most likely ceased.

“No weapon firings were heard or seen; however, a floating surface firing target was deployed by the PLA-N and subsequently recovered.

“The process undertaken by the PLA-N to inform of the live fire activity was conducted in accordance with applicable international law conventions.

“This includes informing other users of the live fire activity.

“However, to minimise disruption to aircraft and vessels, best practice is the establishment of

Notice to Airmen or Notice to Mariners, which the Australian Defence Force would typically release 24 to 48 hours prior to a live firing activity on the high seas.”

The Australian government has raised its concern with the lack of notice on the live fire activity from the Chinese government, including through appropriate channels in Canberra and Beijing.

“Australia respects the right of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace under international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Defence said.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong was expected to raise the issue with China, while Mr Albanese has also discussed it with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, said she would raise the live fire incident with her Chinese counterpart. Picture: Supplied

The Australian Financial Review reported commercial flight had been “harassed by a live fire exercise”.

Senator Wong earlier said she would discuss the live fire exercises with the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi at the foreign ministers’ G20 meeting in South Africa.

“We already have (discussed this) at official level in relation to the notice given and the transparency provided in relation to these exercises, particularly the live fire exercises,” she said told ABC TV from Johannesburg on Friday.

Senator Wong said it was “normal practice” for such advice to commercial airlines to be given in the circumstances.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said China had given Australia short notice of the live fire exercise. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Mr Albanese said China had alerted Australia “that it would be conducting these activities, including the potential use of live fire” on short notice on Friday.

“It’s outside of Australia’s exclusive economic zone,” he said.

“Australia and New Zealand ships and aircraft have been monitoring the Chinese fleet while they have been travelling down the coast of Australia.

“Off the coast, as you would expect us to be doing, I’ve spoken with the chief of the Defence Force, the Defence Minister, Richard Marles, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, and I’ve also had contact with the New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, this afternoon.

“It is the case that the notice was given when that occurs.”

It’s understood three commercial flights have currently been diverted due to the exercise.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says Australia was monitoring the Chinese warships. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Australian and International Pilots Association vice president Captain Steve Cornell said training exercises weren’t uncommon for pilots to contend with.

“Whilst it was unusual to have Chinese warships in this part of the world, pilots often have to contend with obstacles to safe navigation, whether that be from military exercises such as this or other events like rocket launches, space debris or volcanic eruptions,” he said.

“That being said, it’s a big bit of ocean and you would think that they could have parked somewhere less inconvenient whilst they flexed their muscles.”

Mr Marles said on Thursday the activity was “unusual”.

“We are keeping close watch on them, and we will be making sure that we watch every move and whenever this mission is over on the part of the Chinese task group, we will assess everything we have seen to make a proper assessment of exactly what they were trying to achieve through this mission,” Mr Marles told Sky News.

Defence has been contacted.

Originally published as Commercial pilots warned after Chinese warships spotted off Sydney