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China’s Defence Ministry has dismissed Australia’s concerns over recent Chinese live-fire naval exercises in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, calling them “hyped up” and “inconsistent with the facts.”
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles criticised Beijing on Saturday for what he described as inadequate notice before the drills, which he said forced airlines to reroute flights. Marles also stated that China had not provided a satisfactory explanation for the short notice given.
In response, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian defended the exercises, stating in an official post that China had issued repeated safety notices in advance. He asserted that China’s actions were in full compliance with international law and did not pose a threat to aviation safety.
“Australia, fully knowing this, made unreasonable accusations against China and deliberately hyped it up,” Qian said. “We are deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand reported on Saturday that it had also observed the Chinese navy conducting a second day of live-fire exercises. Authorities confirmed they were closely monitoring a fleet of Chinese vessels operating in the region.
The incident adds to ongoing tensions between China and Australia, particularly in matters of military activity and regional security. Both sides continue to stand firm in their positions, with China maintaining that its exercises were lawful and Australia expressing concerns over transparency and communication regarding military drills in shared international waters.
Melissa Enoch
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