Australia's defence chief admits to missed Chinese drill warning

Australia's defence chief, Admiral David Johnston, acknowledged that the country missed a warning about a Chinese live-fire exercise. This admission contradicts Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's earlier statements regarding the timeline of notifications. The warning from a New Zealand warship arrived 90 minutes after the exercise began, despite Australia monitoring the Chinese vessels for days. Johnston noted that the notification was inadequate and caused significant disruptions, including 49 aircraft diversions. Opposition leaders criticized the government for the delayed response and questioned the Prime Minister's honesty about the situation. Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that China has not provided satisfactory explanations for the lack of notice regarding the drill.