Overview

• China conducted live-fire naval drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, prompting airlines to reroute flights due to short-notice warnings.
• Australian officials criticized the lack of adequate advance notice, typically expected to be 12 to 24 hours, calling the situation disconcerting for aviation safety.
• China's Defense Ministry maintained the drills complied with international law and accused Australia of exaggerating the issue with unreasonable accusations.
• New Zealand confirmed a second day of Chinese live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea and stated it was monitoring the Chinese naval fleet's activities.
• The incident follows broader tensions between Australia and China, including disputes in the South China Sea and concerns over military conduct.