Chinese warships sailing south along Australia's eastern coast have prompted significant unease in both Australia and New Zealand, following their announcement of live fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. The situation led to commercial flights diverting course, heightening regional security concerns.
Chinese Naval Exercises Raise Concerns in Australia and New Zealand
Chinese Naval Exercises Raise Concerns in Australia and New Zealand
The recent live fire drills by Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea spotlight geopolitical tensions in the Pacific region.
In a statement on February 21, 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that three Chinese naval vessels, including a powerful warship from the Chinese navy, were undertaking the drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand. While these exercises took place outside of Australia's exclusive economic zone, their unannounced nature has been interpreted by analysts as a demonstration of strength by China.
The Australian military is closely monitoring the movements of the vessels, which were first detected on Australia’s northeast coast last week, now having traveled approximately 150 nautical miles from Sydney. Despite the Chinese ships being within legitimate regional waters, Australian officials have expressed their concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the drills. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong plans to address these issues with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at an upcoming G20 meeting in South Africa.
In a response to the situation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson claimed that the exercises, categorized as "far seas exercises," were conducted safely and in accordance with international law. Meanwhile, Airservices Australia has preemptively instructed airlines to avoid certain areas of the Tasman Sea as a cautionary measure.
Though the situation remains tense, both nations are proceeding with vigilance as they navigate the complexities of regional security and international relations.
Li You contributed research to this report.
The Australian military is closely monitoring the movements of the vessels, which were first detected on Australia’s northeast coast last week, now having traveled approximately 150 nautical miles from Sydney. Despite the Chinese ships being within legitimate regional waters, Australian officials have expressed their concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the drills. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong plans to address these issues with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at an upcoming G20 meeting in South Africa.
In a response to the situation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson claimed that the exercises, categorized as "far seas exercises," were conducted safely and in accordance with international law. Meanwhile, Airservices Australia has preemptively instructed airlines to avoid certain areas of the Tasman Sea as a cautionary measure.
Though the situation remains tense, both nations are proceeding with vigilance as they navigate the complexities of regional security and international relations.
Li You contributed research to this report.
