Chinese Navy Conducts Second Live Firing Drill in International Waters Near New Zealand

A Chinese naval ship is seen in a file photo. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi/via Reuters

A second live firing exercise was reportedly conducted in international waters near New Zealand by the Chinese navy on Feb. 22, a day after a similar drill caused several airlines to alter flight paths.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was unclear where the Chinese naval vessels were headed and for what purpose.

Luxon said New Zealand is monitoring, shadowing, and tracking the fleet.

NZ Navy personnel observed the live rounds fired from a Chinese vessel’s main gun, a spokesperson for Defence Minister Judith Collins said on Feb. 22.

The spokesperson added that Chinese navy had advised the NZ Defence Force of a second live firing drill through radio channels.

The first drill China conducted occurred in the waters between Australia and New Zealand and caused Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand to modify flight paths between the two countries.

Defence officials began monitoring the three Chinese warships a week before the drill, where they were spotted moving south in international waters around 280 kilometres off Sydney on Feb. 20.

Albanese Comments on First Drill

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there has been no danger to Australian assets as a result of the drill and the activity took place outside of Australia’s exclusive economic zone.

A Defence spokesperson said it was advised of the drill through a radio broadcast on a civilian channel.

“[Beijing] did not inform Defence of its intent to conduct a live fire activity and has not provided any further information,” the spokesperson said.

Albanese said the fleet could have given more notice.

It is customary to provide notice 24 to 48 hours before live firing exercises.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart to discuss why the vessels offered limited notice before conducting a live firing drill.

“Today, I met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa,” Penny Wong said in a post on X.

“Calm and consistent dialogue with China enables us to progress our interests and advocate on issues that matter to Australians,” Wong said.

Concerns Around the Drill

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia had not recieved satisfactory answers concerning the incident.

“They notified a live firing exercise but with very short notice, which meant that was very disconcerting for planes that were in the air,” Marles told Channel Seven.

Opposition Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the action is Chinese warships imposing themselves on Australian commercial airspace.

He was also critical of the prime minister’s leadership over the incident.

“Why is he being weak about this? Why isn’t he picking up the phone and making representations on behalf of the Australian people and our national interests?” Hastie said.

The drill follows another with the Chinese military last week when a fighter jet fired flares in front of a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft in the international airspace above the South China sea.

The government lodged an objection with Beijing concerning the near miss.

Reuters contributed to this article.