SYDNEY:  , China issued a warning on Friday ( Feb 21 ) of potential “live fire” naval drills in international waters off Australia’s eastern coast but gave little prior notice, disrupting commercial air flights, the Australian government said.
Beijing did not comment on whether live ammunition was used, but instead described the exercises as” safe, common, professional, and specialist” training exercises in accordance with international law.
Australia’s military forces, joined by near alliance New Zealand, have been monitoring the Chinese military vessels- a ship, a cruiser and a supply tanker- since they were spotted next week.
As the vessels sailed in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, according to Defense Minister Richard Marles, China issued a warning that the ships intended to fire life.
He told regional broadcaster ABC,” By that, I mean a spread that was picked up by flights or actually planes that were business planes that were flying across the Tasman.”
Marles noted that while the Chinese naval ships were operating in international waters and complying with international law, American warships would normally give 12- to 24-hour notice of like drills in order to allow airlines to react.
” That see was not provided around”, the defence minister said.
He said,” This was very disconcerting for the planes that were flying, but they were able to divert,” underscoring that the aircraft had not been in danger.
Australia had contacted China in Canberra and Beijing, asking why the alleged life fire drills had taken place it and why more time had not been given to avoid disruption, according to Marles.
He claimed that the government was also awaiting confirmation that life fire really occurred.
There is” no immediate threat of risk” for American or New Zealand property, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
China’s foreign department responded to a question about the Friday drills by stating that a naval creation had been set up to do training and exercises in “distant waters.”
” The tasks were conducted in a safe, common, and professional manner at all times, in accordance with appropriate international laws and practices”, government official Guo Jiakun said at a standard media presentation.