Australia Monitors Chinese Navy's Live-Fire Drills, 49 Flights Rerouted

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been closely monitoring a Chinese navy frigate that conducted an unprecedented live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea, which caused 49 commercial flights to be rerouted. While China claims it provided adequate warning for the drill under international law, Australian and New Zealand authorities criticized the notification process as inadequate. During the Australian International Airshow, RAAF officials revealed that their P-8A Poseidon aircraft were actively surveilling the Chinese naval transmissions, which included warnings about the live-fire activities. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has criticized the Labor government for the reliance on a Virgin Australia pilot to first detect the drill's communications. Amid rising tensions, Australia's focus remains on enhancing its maritime surveillance capabilities in response to ongoing disputes with China. The situation highlights the increasing geopolitical complexities in the region and the necessity for robust defense measures.