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Australia has warned commercial airlines that Chinese warships are conducting “live fire” military exercises off the country’s east coast, prompting them to reroute flights.
The Financial Times revealed this week that a Chinese naval task group comprising two warships and a supply vessel had travelled within 150 nautical miles of Sydney, in what one person familiar with the matter called an “unprecedented” move down Australia’s coast.
The ships were being shadowed by Australian and New Zealand forces.
Australian authorities warned pilots operating flights in the Tasman Sea on Friday of the Chinese exercises.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia, an air traffic control body, said they were aware of reports of live fire being used in international waters and “as a precaution” advised airlines with planned flights to reroute.
A Qantas spokesperson said the airline had “adjusted some flights”, including those of its Jetstar subsidiary, and would “monitor the situation”.
Judith Collins, New Zealand’s defence minister, said this week that the presence of “formidable” Chinese warships was “a wake-up call” for a region that has long relied on its geographical isolation as a form of defence guarantee.
The military exercises, which have been conducted in international waters, are legal, according to Australian officials. Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, said Beijing had given prior notice.
But the actions have nonetheless caused concern as Beijing has sought to project its influence and military might further afield in the Pacific.
Wong said she would confront her counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Johannesburg on Friday over the “transparency provided in relation to these exercises, particularly the live fire exercises”.
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