Chinese Navy Conducts Live-Fire Drills In Australian Waters, Warns Commercial Airlines.
Australian air traffic control and Australian officials say they have contacted airlines to warn them of reports of live-fire firing as a Chinese naval task force operates in waters off Australia’s east coast.
A People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate, a corvette and a supply ship entered the Australian Gulf last week and sailed along Australia’s east coast this week under the surveillance of the Australian and New Zealand navies and air forces.
“The Civil Aviation Authority and Air Services Australia are aware of reports of live-fire firing in international waters,” air traffic control agency Air Services Australia said in a statement on Friday.
“As a precaution, we have notified airlines planning to fly into the area,” he added.
Qantas and its low-cost airline division Jetstar are monitoring the airspace and have temporarily adjusted some flights between Australia and New Zealand over the Tasman Sea.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the live rounds came from the Chinese task force and the situation was evolving.
“From what I understand, it’s operating in international waters,” he told on Friday.
“We will discuss this with the Chinese, and we have discussed it at an official level, including the notifications that have been given and the transparency associated with these exercises, especially the live-fire exercises.”
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that China notified Australian authorities on Friday that it would hold exercises off the coast of New South Wales.
Defense Minister Richard Marrs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
