SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
Australia concerned over China navy 'live fire' drills off east coast
Sydney, Feb 21 (AFP) Feb 21, 2025
Australia's foreign minister voiced concern Friday over live fire drills conducted by three Chinese warships sailing off the country's east coast.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was worried about the lack of transparency surrounding the "live fire exercises", and would be raising her "concerns" with Beijing.

"We will be discussing this with the Chinese," she told national broadcaster ABC from Johannesburg, where she was attending a G20 meeting.

The drills sparked a warning from Australia's air safety agency, forcing some commercial flights to alter their course.

"As a precaution, we have advised airlines with flights planned in the area," government agency Airservices Australia said in a statement.

"We are also working together to coordinate advice to operators and pilots."

Australia's defence department has been monitoring the Chinese navy vessels -- a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker -- since they were spotted in international waters last week.

Although the ships are sailing in international waters, officials have described their presence as "unusual".

The ships were reportedly within 150 nautical miles (about 280 kilometres) of Australia's mainland earlier this week.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Unexpected Dust Patterns Found on Uranus Moons Confound Scientists
Earth-based telescopes offer a fresh look at cosmic dawn
Breakthrough hybrid model restores orbit accuracy for BeiDou-3 satellites

24/7 Energy News Coverage
World's first non-silicon 2D computer developed
From plastic trash to solar hydrogen a practical method emerges
Auto sector reels from China's rare earth restrictions

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
AI-enabled control system helps autonomous drones stay on target in uncertain environments
Japan says two Chinese aircraft carriers seen in Pacific
NATO learns as Ukraine's 'creativity' changes battlefield

24/7 News Coverage
'No doubt' Canadian firm will be first to extract deep sea minerals: CEO
What is the high seas treaty?
World leaders urged to step up for overexploited oceans



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.