A murky picture has emerged over China's live-fire drills. Who knew what when?
Australian Senate estimates heard the first knowledge Australian authorities had of the potentially dangerous live-fire activity was through a civilian pilot flying a commercial flight over the area. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said the New Zealand navy notified Australia 'at about the same time' as the pilot notified Airservices Australia.
A spokesperson for Australia's defence minister has said the government has raised concern over a 'lack of notice' about the live-fire drills with Beijing.
But China says this is untrue and that the training exercises were 'conducted with repeated safety notices that had been issued in advance'.
The defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said China's actions were 'entirely in accordance with international law' and established practices and would not impact aviation safety. He said the live-fire drills took place on the high seas far from Australia's coastline.
Here is what we know about how the drills were communicated so far:
9.30am: A flotilla of three Chinese warships – the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu – begins a series of live-fire drills. According to Australia's defence department, the ships are stationed 346 nautical miles (640km) off Eden.
9.58am: Airservices Australia receives notification of the live-fire drill from a Virgin pilot who heard a broadcast from a foreign warship that they are conducting live firing 300 nautical miles off Australia's coast. This is the first Airservices Australia has learned of the Chinese naval live-fire exercise, according to its chief executive, Rob Sharp.
Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email
The Airservices Australia deputy chief executive, Peter Curran, later told Senate estimates that the Chinese navy's message was broadcast in English on an international guard frequency – an emergency radio channel monitored by pilots but not by air traffic control. The aircraft was capable of picking up the radio signal within 250 nautical miles of the vessel.
10am: Air traffic controllers issue a hazard alert within two minutes of being alerted to the drill by the Virgin pilot. They establish an 18km exclusion zone around the flotilla, extending to a height of 45,000 feet.
10.08am: Airservices Australia notifies the Australian defence force's Joint Operations Command Headquarters about the drill, 10 minutes after the initial contact from the Virgin pilot. 'At that stage, we didn't know whether it was a potential hoax or real,' Curran told senators.
10.18am: A separate commercial flight, operated by Emirates, is in radio contact with the Chinese warships. The Emirates flight is informed that the live-firing exercise had commenced at 9.30am and would conclude at 2pm.
'We presume … that as the aircraft got closer to the vessel, it picked up the transmissions. Those transmissions may have been being made for some time,' Curran said.
11.01am: The New Zealand navy, which had been shadowing the Chinese flotilla, informs Australia of the life-fire exercise.
'The advice through the New Zealand vessel on station through its national reporting: we received that at 11.01am. That is approximately 50 minutes, or somewhat less than an hour, since that advice came to us from Airservices,' the chief of the defence force, Adm David Johnston, later told Senate estimates.
Sign up to Breaking News Australia
Get the most important news as it breaks
after newsletter promotion
11.28am: The Airservices chief executive calls the CEO of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to inform it about the drill.
From 11.20am to 11.30am: CASA calls the deputy secretary of Australia's transport department.
Noon: An industry telephone conference is held, including Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and possibly other airlines. Emails are later sent to international airlines notifying them of the Chinese exercise.
2pm: Chinese military live-firing exercises were due to end, according to earlier radio transmissions.
Ultimately, 49 aircraft diverted their flight paths on Friday. Some were re-routed while they were in the air, while others were given different flight paths to avoid the Chinese flotilla's location at sea.
9.30am-2pm: Chinese navy live-firing exercises continue in international waters in the Tasman Sea.
Flights continue to be diverted until Monday. Senate estimates heard ships had since moved further south, away from trans-Tasman flight paths.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Afternoon Update: Israel diplomatic row deepens; Lehrmann a ‘national joke', court told; and the agony of a software update
Good afternoon. Australia's government has rejected Benjamin Netanyahu's incendiary criticism and accused some Israeli politicians of 'bigoted' views about Palestinians, as the extraordinary political fight between the two nations turns uglier. The federal government's refusal of a travel visa for the far-right Knesset member Simcha Rothman stoked criticism from the Israeli prime minister, who labelled Anthony Albanese a 'weak politician' who had 'abandoned Australia's Jews'. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,' the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, told Radio National on Wednesday. 'Strength is much better measured by exactly what [Albanese] has done, which is when there's a decision that we know Israel won't like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu.' On Wednesday afternoon, Albanese said he wouldn't take Netanyahu's comments personally. 'I engage with people diplomatically. [Netanyahu] has had similar things to say about other leaders.' Bruce Lehrmann has become a 'national joke' and can't afford barrister for defamation appeal, his lawyer says Children with autism to be diverted off NDIS under $2bn federal program Victoria's urgent childcare review recommendations unveiled: major reforms but no 'silver bullet' to stop 'dangerous individuals' French prosecutors investigating death of man during live stream Microsoft workers occupy HQ in protest at company's ties to Israeli military Why is the NZ government cutting Māori words from some school books? Recent media coverage claims that 'Australians, especially men, are reading less' and 'young men have stopped reading books'. But is that true? Guardian Australia's data editor, Nick Evershed, does a deep dive into whether that claim is backed up by the numbers. 'Liam's smashing it. I'm proud of him … I couldn't do the stadium thing like he does it, it's not in my nature. But I've got to say, I kind of look and I think, 'Good for you mate.' He's been amazing.' – Noel Gallagher Noel Gallagher has opened up about his feelings towards his long-estranged brother Liam during Oasis' sold-out global reunion tour for the first time. Fifteen years after their acrimonious split, Gallagher said it was 'great being back in the band with Liam, I forgot how funny he was'. Zelenskyy suits up for peace but can Trump deliver? Six months after their explosive meeting in the White House, Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again met Donald Trump in Washington. But this time the Ukrainian president arrived with the support of key European leaders, who dropped everything in the hopes of securing a potential deal to end the war with Russia. Washington bureau chief David Smith speaks to Nour Haydar about whether Europe's united front managed to steer Trump away from the Kremlin, what chance is left of a ceasefire and how Trump welcomed Vladimir Putin back on to the world stage. Listen to the episode here Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ The promise of forced software patches is that they improve the software and apps we use every day – make them more convenient, maintain our security and so on. But what actually happens most of the time, writes Patrick Lum, is that updates change perfectly fine tech to the point where it sucks. Australian Book Week is here – and we'd love to see your children's costumes The highlight of Book Week for many kids is the chance to dress up as their most beloved characters, bringing them to life from the pages of a favourite book and into a costume parade. The annual event, which promotes literacy, is celebrating 80 years as part of Australian school life – and we'd love to see the weirdest, wackiest and most wonderful costumes. Today's starter word is: BOOT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply. If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Netanyahu brands Australia's Albanese ‘weak' over Palestinian state recognition
Mr Netanyahu's extraordinary public rebuke came after an August 11 announcement by Mr Albanese that his government's recognition of a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The announcement was followed by tit-for-tat cancellations of Australian and Israeli visas. 'History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews,' Mr Netanyahu posted on social media. Mr Albanese responded pointedly on Wednesday: 'I treat leaders of other countries with respect. I engage with them in a diplomatic way.' 'I don't take these things personally,' Mr Albanese added. 'Increasingly there is global concern and global concern because people want to see an end to the cycle of violence that we have seen for far too long. That is what Australians want to see as well.' Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke further inflamed Israel's anger by cancelling the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, a member of Mr Netanyahu's coalition, who planned an Australian speaking tour. Mr Rothman is a member of the Religious Zionism party, which supports continuation of the war, the mass relocation of Palestinians through what it describes as voluntary migration and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza. Mr Burke on Wednesday accused Mr Netanyahu of 'lashing out' against Australia as he had done against Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, Norway and Spain over recognition of a Palestinian state. Mr Burke denied Mr Albanese was weak. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,' Mr Burke told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar retaliated on Monday for Mr Rothman's treatment by revoking visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Saar also told the Israeli Embassy in Australia to 'carefully examine' any official visa applications from Australia to Israel. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong responded by accusing the Netanyahu government of isolating Israel. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry – the nation's peak advocacy group, said the Jewish community was 'profoundly disturbed and concerned by the rapidly deteriorating state of relations' between the two countries. Australian Jews did not feel 'abandoned' by the Albanese government, rejecting Mr Netanyahu's accusation, Mr Ryvchin said. 'When allies speak, they should speak frankly, robustly, but also in a dignified way, and I think firing off tweets which contain elements of abuse to them,' Mr Ryvchin said. 'I don't think that's the way to operate.' Australia is an increasingly multicultural country where more than half the population was born overseas or has at least one foreign parent. There is widespread community concern over the Israel-Hamas war, indicated by tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marching over the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month. Antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels across Australia, which the government acknowledged last year by appointing the nation's first special envoy to combat antisemitism, Sydney lawyer Jillian Segal. Australia's conservative opposition party has pledged to reverse Australia's recognition of Palestine if it wins the next election, which is due in 2028.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Netanyahu brands Australia's Albanese ‘weak' over Palestinian state recognition
Mr Netanyahu's extraordinary public rebuke came after an August 11 announcement by Mr Albanese that his government's recognition of a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The announcement was followed by tit-for-tat cancellations of Australian and Israeli visas. 'History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews,' Mr Netanyahu posted on social media. Benjamin Netanyahu (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP) Mr Albanese responded pointedly on Wednesday: 'I treat leaders of other countries with respect. I engage with them in a diplomatic way.' 'I don't take these things personally,' Mr Albanese added. 'Increasingly there is global concern and global concern because people want to see an end to the cycle of violence that we have seen for far too long. That is what Australians want to see as well.' Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke further inflamed Israel's anger by cancelling the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, a member of Mr Netanyahu's coalition, who planned an Australian speaking tour. Mr Rothman is a member of the Religious Zionism party, which supports continuation of the war, the mass relocation of Palestinians through what it describes as voluntary migration and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza. Mr Burke on Wednesday accused Mr Netanyahu of 'lashing out' against Australia as he had done against Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, Norway and Spain over recognition of a Palestinian state. Mr Burke denied Mr Albanese was weak. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,' Mr Burke told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar retaliated on Monday for Mr Rothman's treatment by revoking visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Saar also told the Israeli Embassy in Australia to 'carefully examine' any official visa applications from Australia to Israel. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong responded by accusing the Netanyahu government of isolating Israel. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry – the nation's peak advocacy group, said the Jewish community was 'profoundly disturbed and concerned by the rapidly deteriorating state of relations' between the two countries. Australian Jews did not feel 'abandoned' by the Albanese government, rejecting Mr Netanyahu's accusation, Mr Ryvchin said. 'When allies speak, they should speak frankly, robustly, but also in a dignified way, and I think firing off tweets which contain elements of abuse to them,' Mr Ryvchin said. 'I don't think that's the way to operate.' Australia is an increasingly multicultural country where more than half the population was born overseas or has at least one foreign parent. There is widespread community concern over the Israel-Hamas war, indicated by tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marching over the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month. Antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels across Australia, which the government acknowledged last year by appointing the nation's first special envoy to combat antisemitism, Sydney lawyer Jillian Segal. Australia's conservative opposition party has pledged to reverse Australia's recognition of Palestine if it wins the next election, which is due in 2028.
