Planes flying between Australia and New Zealand were recently diverted as China conducted a closely-monitored military exercise in the nearby waters, which could involve live fire. This exercise involves the presence of three Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea, prompting both Australia and New Zealand to issue alerts and adjust flight routes for safety reasons. Recent history has shown that naval tensions lead to the possibility of rerouting flights in an effort to avoid potential collisions similar to the near misses or even accidents like the one involving a U.S. Navy ship in January 2023, highlighting the importance of such precautions.

Australian airlines, including Qantas, have temporarily adjusted flight routes to ensure the safety of their passengers. Qantas spokesperson, mentioned to the press that “it had changed the routes of its planes flying across the Tasman Sea and today to inform the public about the updated safety measures.”

China’s Naval Fleet in International Waters

China maintains that its exercises are being conducted in international waters in full compliance with international law. The naval fleet, comprising a frigate, a cruiser, and a supply tanker, is reported to be approximately 340 miles east of the New South Wales coast. At one point, the ships came as close as 150 nautical miles from Sydney, according to officials.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun described the drill, saying that “the exercises were discharged in a safe, standard, and professional manner at all times, in accordance with relevant international laws and practices.”

Australia and New Zealand on High Alert

Australia and New Zealand have been closely monitoring the Chinese fleet since last week, dispatching their own naval vessels to observe the activities. New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins expressed concern that China had not informed them of the planned exercises earlier. She mentioned that “China has not advised us on what they are doing in the Tasman Sea.” This lack of communication is not wholly unexpected given China’s history of military drills and exercises without official notification, a practice U.S. military officials are also familiar with in the South China Sea and other regional waters.

Similarly, Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles described the situation as “an unusual occurrence,” although not unprecedented.

“What China did was put out a notice that it was intending to engage in live fire, and by that, I mean a notification that was picked up by airlines, literally commercial planes that were flying across the Tasman,” Marles noted, adding that such notices are typically given 12 to 24 hours in advance.

International Communication and Concerns

On Friday, Emirates Airlines was alerted about the naval exercises while en route from Sydney to Christchurch. The airline informed the BBC that it remains in contact with local authorities and other airlines to monitor the situation closely. Qantas also confirmed the temporary rerouting of flights to avoid any risks, stating, “We continue to work with the Australian government and broader industry to monitor the situation.” Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have reportedly taken similar precautionary steps.

Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese noted: “This activity occurred in waters consistent with international law. However, the Chinese navy has not given a direct notice to Australian officials when issuing an alert about live fire exercises in our waters. Alice Spring confirmed that there is no imminent risk of danger to any Southeast Asian assets that we are aware of.”

Recent Maritime Incidents and Future Implications

This recent incident closely follows a recent high-level defence dialogue between Australia and China. These talks, held in Beijing, focused on enhancing communication and transparency in military matters, given the tense maritime encounters in the region. A recent Australian report briefly outlined this.