The Australian government has requested explanations from Beijing after commercial aircraft pilots were forced to divert their routes due to a Chinese Navy warning of a live-fire exercise in the waters between Australia and New Zealand. This incident occurred on Friday, with the crew of the New Zealand HMNZS TE KAHA, which was following the Chinese ships, reporting a “real fire activity” and monitoring the Chinese ships as they deployed and recovered a floating target.
The presence of Chinese Navy ships in the Sea of Tasmania has generated unease in both Australia and New Zealand, as they are navigating in unusually southern waters on an undeclared mission. Although their navigation is legal under international law, the lack of communication and the announcement of exercises with real fire have raised tensions in the region. The Chinese group consists of a war cruise of the Renhai class, a frigate, and a supply ship, which have been monitored by Australian defense forces since they were detected off the northeast coast of Australia.
In recent days, the ships approached about 150 nautical miles of Sydney, within Australia’s exclusive economic zone, although outside its sovereign territory. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that he had spoken with his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, as well as with Defense Minister Richard Marles, about the incident. The Australian government has closely followed the movements of the flotilla through maritime and aerial surveillance operations. Defense Minister Richard Marles described the situation as “unusual,” although not without precedent, noting that in 2019, Chinese ships made a port call in Sydney as part of a diplomatic exchange.
A spokesman from the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the exercise was carried out “in a safe, standard, and professional manner in accordance with relevant international law and international practice.” However, security experts have expressed concern about the true objective of the incursion. Bec Strating, a professor of international relations at La Trobe University, suggested that it could be an intelligence collection operation or a demonstration of power by China. Collin Koh, a researcher at the Technological University of Nanyang, noted that the participation of the Zunyi cruise, one of the most advanced in the Chinese Navy, reinforces the hypothesis that Beijing seeks to send a strategic message to Australia and the United States.
Despite the alert, it has not been confirmed if shots with real ammunition were actually carried out. The Chief of the Australian Defense Force, Admiral David Johnston, indicated that no immediate risks have been detected for Australian or New Zealand assets.
Diplomatic response
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will meet with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the G20 meeting in South Africa, to address the lack of transparency in the Chinese naval operation. Wong acknowledged that China has the right to conduct maneuvers in international waters but expressed concern about the low level of information provided and the uncertainty it has generated. New Zealand has also been monitoring the ships in coordination with Australia, with Defense Minister Judith Collins warning about the context of growing tensions in the region, especially after the recent launch of a Chinese intercontinental missile that fell into the Pacific Ocean.
The episode occurs at a time of delicate relations between Beijing and Canberra, amid commercial disputes and concerns about Chinese influence in the Pacific. The presence of warships in the Sea of Tasmania reinforces the perception that China seeks to project its power beyond its traditional borders, testing the reaction of its neighbors and strategic partners.