Beijing yesterday warned Canberra of potential “live fire” naval drills in international waters off Australia’s eastern coast, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, as commercial flights were told to steer clear of the area.
Beijing described the maneuvers as training exercises that were “safe, standard and professional,” and in line with international law, without commenting on whether live ammunition was used.
The Australian Department of Defence has been monitoring the Chinese navy vessels — a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker — since they were spotted last week.
Photo: AFP
Albanese said the fleet had yesterday alerted Australian officials that it might start conducting live-fire drills, and that ships and planes should steer clear.
“This is activity that has occurred in waters consistent with international law,” Albanese said. “There has been no imminent risk of danger to any Australian assets or New Zealand assets, and that’s why this notification occurs.”
Asked about the drills yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the military had “organized a naval formation to conduct training and exercises in distant waters.”
“The exercises were conducted in a safe, standard and professional manner at all times, in accordance with relevant international laws and practices,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) said at a regular news conference.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) earlier had voiced concern over the exercises.
“We will be discussing this with the Chinese,” she told national broadcaster ABC from Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was attending a G20 meeting.
Australia’s air safety agency warned commercial flights to alter course after receiving “reports of live firing in international waters.”
“As a precaution, we have advised airlines with flights planned in the area,” Airservices Australia said in a statement. “We are also working together to coordinate advice to operators and pilots.”
Qantas and its subsidiary budget airline Jetstar temporarily adjusted some flights between Australia and New Zealand, industry sources said.
Virgin Australia was also heeding the advice, while Air New Zealand said it had “modified flight paths as needed to avoid the area.”
Although the ships were sailing in international waters, Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles described their presence as “unusual.”
“We are keeping a close watch on them, and we will make sure we are watching every move,” he told Sky News on Thursday. “It’s not unprecedented, but it is an unusual event.”
The ships were reportedly within 150 nautical miles (280km) of Australia’s mainland earlier this week.
Canberra rebuked Beijing last week for “unsafe” military conduct, accusing a Chinese fighter jet of dropping flares near an Australian air force plane patrolling the South China Sea.
Beijing swiftly hit back, accusing the Australian plane of “violating Chinese sovereignty and endangering Chinese national security.”
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