Australia learns of Chinese naval drills from commercial pilot, flights diverted

Australia learned about Chinese live-fire naval drills near its coast from a commercial pilot, which led to the diversion of at least 49 flights. The drills occurred in the Tasman Sea without prior notice to Australia or New Zealand. Chinese naval exercises, unprecedented in the region, raised safety concerns. While China stated the drills complied with international law, officials noted that better communication could have prevented flight disruptions. The Chinese ships have since moved further from the coast, and Australian and New Zealand defense forces are monitoring their activities. The situation has sparked discussions about best practices for notifying coastal nations of military exercises.