China’s navy has reportedly conducted a second live-fire exercise in international waters, a day after a similar drill forced multiple airlines to change flight paths between Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand navy personnel advised live rounds were fired from a Chinese warship in international waters near the island nation on Saturday.
“Reporting from the New Zealand Defence Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon,” a spokesperson for the defence minister, Judith Collins, said in a statement seen by Reuters.
China’s naval taskforce had given radio notice of its intent to conduct firing, and the NZ prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said the group had acted under international law.
Anthony Albanese earlier bristled at suggestions he should get Beijing on the phone after China’s military carried out a live-fire exercise off the Australian coast on Friday.
The prime minister said senior Defence officials continued to monitor three Chinese warships after they were spotted moving south in international waters about 280km off Sydney on Thursday.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, met with her Chinese counterpart and demanded to know why the vessels only offered limited notice before the firing was carried out.
In a post on X late on Friday night Australian eastern time, Wong said she met with China’s foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa that day.
“Calm and consistent dialogue with China enables us to progress our interests and advocate on issues that matter to Australians,” Wong said.
China’s actions are believed to have complied with international law and the Australian Defence Force has advised there was no imminent threat to its assets or those of NZ.
Analysts believed the sailing was an attempt by Beijing to project power and send a message to Canberra about China’s capability.
Albanese was asked on Saturday if he would call president Xi Jinping in light of the incident but instead defended China’s right to carry out the exercise as it had not breached international law.
“It’s important to not suggest that wasn’t the case,” he said.
“What we have done is to make appropriate representation through diplomatic channels, including foreign minister to foreign minister.
“They could have given more notice but Australia has a presence from time to time in the South China Sea [and] this activity took place outside of our exclusive economic zone. Notification did occur.”
Australia has coordinated its response with NZ but has not spoken with Anzus ally the United States since the incident.
The opposition defence spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, suggested China’s actions amounted to “gunboat diplomacy”.
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“This is Chinese warships imposing themselves on our commercial airspace and that’s why I come back to that question for the PM – where’s his limit?” he told ABC Radio.
“Why is he being weak about this? Why isn’t he picking up the phone and making representations on behalf of the Australian people and our national interests?”
The defence minister, Richard Marles, earlier said Australia had not received satisfactory answers when it queried the incident.
“They notified a live firing exercise but with very short notice, which meant that was very disconcerting for planes that were in the air,” he told Channel Seven.
Australian officials said it was customary to give 24 to 48 hours notice of live fire activity.
Qantas, Emirates and Air New Zealand modified flight paths between Australia and NZ after receiving reports of live firing in international waters.
A Defence spokesperson said China advised via a radio broadcast on a civilian channel that it would carry out its drill.
“[China] did not inform Defence of its intent to conduct a live fire activity and has not provided any further information,” a statement read.
The live-fire exercise follows a run-in with the Chinese military last week when a fighter jet fired flares in front of an RAAF surveillance aircraft during a patrol over the South China Sea.
The government lodged a complaint with Beijing over the near-miss.
With Stephanie Convery and Reuters
Article by:Source: Australian Associated Press
