China’s Naval Drills in Tasman Sea Prompt Safety Concerns from Australia and New Zealand

Live-fire exercises by Chinese warships disrupted commercial flights and raised questions about notification protocols and regional security.

• Chinese naval vessels conducted two live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea, forcing the diversion of at least 49 commercial flights due to short-notice warnings.
• Australia and New Zealand criticized the lack of sufficient advance notification, which aviation officials say should ideally be 12 to 24 hours to ensure safety.
• China asserted that the exercises complied with international law and maintained they had provided adequate warnings, rejecting accusations of irresponsibility.
• The drills, the first of their kind in the Tasman Sea, highlight China's growing naval reach and raise regional security concerns for Australia and New Zealand.
• Experts suggest the incident underscores the need for clearer international protocols or a regional naval code of conduct to prevent future disruptions.

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