3 Chinese warships conduct military drills off Australia, forcing flight diversions

• China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted live-fire exercises in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, prompting flight diversions. The exercises, involving three warships, complied with international law, but raised concerns due to short notice.
• Australian and New Zealand authorities monitored the vessels, criticizing China’s lack of transparency and advance notice.
• The drills demonstrated China’s growing naval reach in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising tensions with neighboring countries.

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Chinese warships sailing south along the eastern coast of Australia announced plans to conduct live-fire exercises in international waters between Australia and New Zealand. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) did not directly notify Australian authorities, and instead, the broadcast was picked up by commercial airlines and air traffic controllers on Friday, Feb. 21, prompting immediate flight diversions.

The surprise announcement raised concerns in both countries, leading to military monitoring of the vessels. The three Chinese warships — Hengyang (Type 054A frigate), Zunyi (Type 055 guided missile cruiser) and Weishanhu (Type 903A replenishment vessel) — had been traveling down Australia’s east coast for over a week before the drills.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the warships remained outside of Australia’s exclusive economic zone during the exercise.

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How did Australia and New Zealand respond?

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed concern over China’s lack of transparency in announcing the drills. The short-notice warning forced airlines to alter flight paths over the Tasman Sea. While the Chinese navy’s activities complied with international law, the sudden broadcast left little time for commercial flights to adjust safely.

Airservices Australia, the country’s air traffic management agency, issued a precautionary alert to pilots about a potential live-fire hazard. Airlines, including Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, modified their flights to avoid the area.

Some planes were already airborne when they received the warning, forcing last-minute route changes.

New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins confirmed that the Royal New Zealand Navy monitored the Chinese naval activity. The HMNZS Te Kaha, a New Zealand frigate, was near the exercise area.

Why did China conduct these drills?

China’s Foreign Ministry described the warships’ presence as part of “far seas exercises” under the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the drills were conducted in a “safe, standard and professional manner” and complied with international maritime law.

China regularly conducts military operations in contested waters, such as the South China Sea, but its presence in the Tasman Sea is rare. Analysts suggest the deployment was a show of force, demonstrating the growing reach of China’s navy in the Indo-Pacific region.

Did the exercises pose a threat?

Australian authorities confirmed that no Australian or New Zealand assets were in immediate danger. However, military officials remain cautious about China’s expanding naval presence in the region. The Australian and New Zealand militaries closely tracked the Chinese ships for over a week, deploying P-8 Poseidon surveillance planes and naval vessels to monitor the situation.

Aviation experts and officials criticized China’s lack of advance notice. Capt. Steve Cornell, vice president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, stated that China could have conducted the exercise in a less disruptive location to avoid interfering with commercial aviation.

How does this compare to China’s other naval movements?

The Tasman Sea drills come just weeks after a separate Chinese naval operation near the Philippines.

On Feb. 2, three Chinese warships — a Renhai-class guided missile cruiser, a Jiangkai-class frigate, and a Type 903 Fuchi-class replenishment oiler — entered Philippine archipelagic waters without prior notification, violating international maritime protocol.

The warships were believed to be en route to Indonesia for the multinational naval exercise “Exercise Komodo.” The Philippine navy and air force monitored the Chinese vessels, reinforcing ongoing tensions between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea.

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What happens next?

Australian officials plan to address China’s lack of notification at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa. Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized the need for greater transparency in China’s regional military operations.

New Zealand’s aviation regulator did not issue official warnings but acknowledged the concerns raised by Airservices Australia. Both countries continue to monitor Chinese naval activity as tensions rise over China’s growing military footprint in the Indo-Pacific.