China navy holds ‘live fire’ drills off Australia’s east coast
Some commercial flights are forced to alter their course for safety.
This handout photo taken on February 13 and released by the Australian Defence Force shows sailors onboard the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Arunta looking at the People's Liberation Army-Navy Fuchi-class replenishment vessel and Weishanhu Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang in the Tasman Sea
Handout / AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE/AFP/File
SYDNEY (AFP) — Australia’s foreign minister voiced concern Friday over live fire drills conducted by three Chinese warships sailing off the country’s east coast.
The ships were reportedly within 280 kilometers of Australia’s mainland earlier this week.
Although the ships are sailing in international waters, officials have described their presence as “unusual.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was worried about the lack of transparency surrounding the “live fire exercises” and would be raising her “concerns” with Beijing.
“We will be discussing this with the Chinese,” she told national broadcaster ABC from Johannesburg, where she was attending a G20 meeting.
The drills sparked a warning from Australia’s air safety agency, forcing some commercial flights to alter their course.
“As a precaution, we have advised airlines with flights planned in the area,” government agency Airservices Australia said in a statement.
“We are also working together to coordinate advice to operators and pilots.”
Australia’s defense department has been monitoring the Chinese navy vessels — a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker — since they were spotted in international waters last week.