Australia expressed concern to China on Friday for the brief notification given by the Chinese Navy that it would carry out a living fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to divert flights, said Defense Minister Richard Marles.
The airlines, including the flight routes modified by Qantas and Air New Zealand, between Australia and New Zealand on Friday after China transmitted a message that the Navy of the popular liberation army would celebrate living fire exercises on the coast of Nueva Gales From the south in International Waters, a rare event.
Last week, a frigate from the Navy of the Popular Liberation Army, the Cruise and the Representative of Representative entered the Australian sea approaches, and traveled along the east coast of Australia this week, monitored by the marinas and the air forces of Australia and New Zealand.
Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, told journalists on Friday afternoon that it was not clear if the Chinese Navy had used living fire, and the Australian defense force had reported that there was no imminent risk of danger for assets Australians or New Zealand.
“China issued, according to the practice, an alert that it would carry out these activities, including the potential use of living fire. It is outside the exclusive economic zone of Australia, ”he said, indicating that it was at least 200 nautical miles on the coast.
The Chinese ships took “a transmission that was collected by airlines or literally airplanes that were commercial airplanes that flew through Tasman,” Marles said in an ABC radio interview on Friday.
“They fulfilled international law in terms of warning, but it was very short term and put commercial airplanes in a disconcerting circumstance in which, you already know, they needed to divert me quite fast,” he said.
Australia has asked China why she wanted to perform a living fire exercise between Australia and New Zealand, and why no more notices were given to avoid interruptions in commercial airplanes, she said.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will also raise the matter with his Chinese counterpart in South Africa, where they attend the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the G20.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news conference in Beijing on Friday that the South Liberation Army Command of the Popular Liberation Army “organized a fleet of ships to perform exercises and training in distant waters” .
“Training exercises and activities confirmed security standards and professional operations in accordance with international laws and relevant international practices,” he said.
The New Zealand Frigate Te Kaha was close to the Chinese exercise, and New Zealand said it was collecting information about the activity of the Chinese Navy.
“Like Australia, our main concern is the security of our people, boats and airplanes. There is no continuous danger to New Zealand, “said New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, in a statement.
Australia’s air traffic control agency contacted the airlines on Friday that warns them Friday about live fire reports where the Chinese navy group was operating, the agency said and Australian officials.
“The Civil Aviation and Airservices Austral Authority are aware of live dismissal reports in international waters,” said Airservices Aevices Air Driving Control Agency Australia in a statement.
“As a precaution, we have advised airlines with planned flights in the area,” he added.
Qantas and its low -cost arm jetstar were monitoring the airspace and temporarily adjusted some flights through the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
Air New Zealand said he had modified flight routes as necessary to avoid the area, without impact on its operations, while Virgin Australia Virgin Australia was following the instructions of Aeustralia Airservices.
Albanese said he had contacted New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the matter.
“The head of the Defense Force has reported that it is not clear if there was any real living fire used in this area, but it is consistent with international law,” said Albanese.
