Summary

Forty-nine commercial flights were forced to change course when Chinese warships unexpectedly conducted live-fire drills off Australia’s eastern coast.

The drills, held in international waters, were first detected by a Virgin Australia flight, prompting criticism from Australia and New Zealand for the lack of prior warning.

China defended the exercises as “safe, standard, and professional,” insisting it had issued multiple safety notices.

The incident follows recent tensions, including an Australian accusation that China engaged in “unsafe” military conduct near the South China Sea.