China defends naval drills near Australia and accuses Canberra of exaggeration

China has defended its naval drills near Australia, claiming that Canberra is exaggerating the situation. The drills included live-fire exercises, which prompted changes to commercial flight paths in the region. Australia and New Zealand have been monitoring three Chinese Navy vessels in the Tasman Sea. Air New Zealand confirmed it altered its flight paths to avoid the area due to warnings from the Chinese military. Beijing's response comes after Australian officials expressed concern over the military activities. The situation marks a notable increase in tensions between China and Australia regarding naval operations in the region.