CHINA has launched shock war drills near Australia and New Zealand forcing flights to dramatically divert.
The unusual appearance of Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea sparked fears that live-fire exercises were launched, putting the area on high alert.
APA Chinese naval ship travels in the Torres Strait off Australia’s coast, on 11 February[/caption]
AFPThese ships sparked ‘live-fire’ drill fears on Friday[/caption]
APThree planes were reportedly forced to divert over the Tasman Sea[/caption]
Airlines flying over the sea were warned by the Chinese military to change their flight path over an allegedly secret exercise.
China’s potential live-fire drills were a shock to Australian authorities who reportedly only learned about these exercises from surprised commercial pilots, Defense Minister Richard Marles revealed on Friday.
Marles said: “To be clear, we weren’t notified by China.
“What China did was put out a notification that it was intending to engage in live firing.
“By that, I mean a broadcast that was picked up by airlines or literally … commercial planes that were flying across the Tasman.”
The minister explained this was unprecedented because authorities typically give a 12 to 24-hour notice of live-fire drills.
Three Chinese warships were reportedly running these exercises just 150 nautical miles east of Sydney.
The vessels were supposedly seen changing formation, deploying a floating target, and resetting formations, which resembled a live-fire drill, according to ABC News.
Airline pilots were reportedly claiming they were being “harassed” by the Chinese military, per the MailOnline.
Three flights, from Sydney to Christchurch, were affected by this surprise display of force from China.
Airlines like Emirates, Qantas, and Air New Zealand flights reported changing their flight paths over the Tasman Sea.
Earlier this week, New Zealand’s Defence Minister revealed the Chinese government and embassy had not given any notice that it would send warships to the region.
Minister Judith Collins said: “They have not deigned to advise us on what they are doing in the middle of the Tasman Sea.”
China’s foreign ministry confirmed they were doing naval training and exercises in “distant waters”, on Friday.
Despite New Zealand’s comments, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Chinese fleet had sent an alert saying they could run live-fire exercises in the area.
He said: “This is activity that has occurred in waters consistent with international law… there has been no imminent risk of danger to any Australian assets or New Zealand assets.”
The Prime Minister did not confirm whether live firing had taken place.
Despite this, Marles insisted China had not directly notified authorities.
APA picture of the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang and a Fuchi-class replenishment vessel in the Tasman Sea on 13 February 13, 2025[/caption]
ReutersChina’s President Xi Jinping has been increasing his navy’s presence[/caption]
SHOW OF STRENGTH
This has not been China’s first shock military exercise on the waters.
Xi Jinping’s military has increased its naval presence around its neighbours too.
China’s President issued a brutal New Year warning to Taiwan as the nation continues its war games against the self-ruled province.
Bringing the self-governed province back in line with mainland China has been a goal of Xi’s for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force.
A swarm of fighter jets and warships were launched to circle and intimidate the island in October 2024.
A damaged deep-sea cable, off the coast of Taiwan in January, launched fears of potential Chinese sabotage.
A telecommunications cable was reportedly damaged near Yehliu, New Taipei City.
Officials believed the cable was cut near the busy port of Keelung on Taiwan’s north coast.
Why does China want to invade Taiwan?
TAIWAN insists it is an independent nation after splitting from mainland China amid civil war in 1949.
But China claims Taiwan remains a part of its territory with which it must eventually be reunified – and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island and place it under Beijing’s control.
The island, which is roughly 100 miles from the coast of south-east China, sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.
Taiwan sits in the so-called “first island chain”, which includes a list of US-friendly territories that are crucial to Washington’s foreign policy in the region.
This also puts it in an ideal situation to slow a Chinese attack on the West.
And with tensions between the two nations high, Taiwan is likely to aid China’s enemy if it means keeping its independence.
Taiwan’s economy is another factor in China’s desperation to reclaim the land.
If China takes the island, it could be freer to project power in the western Pacific and rival the US, thanks to much of the world’s electronics being made in Taiwan.
This would allow Beijing to have control over an industry that drives the global economy.
China insists that its intentions are peaceful, but President Xi Jinping has also used threats towards the small island nation.
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