Latest news with #TaskGroup
Japan Times
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
New Zealand says China navy held another live-fire drill in international waters
New Zealand said the Chinese navy conducted a live-fire exercise in international waters near the Pacific nation on Saturday, a day after it held a similar drill between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights. "Reporting from the New Zealand Defence Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon," a spokesperson for Defence Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. Personnel on New Zealand Navy frigate Te Kaha observed live rounds fired from a Chinese vessel's main gun, the statement said, adding that the task group had "advised via radio channels of its intent to conduct live firing." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said earlier on Saturday that it was unclear where the Chinese naval vessels were headed in international waters and for what purpose. "What we are doing is monitoring and shadowing and tracking the fleet," he said in Christchurch, adding that China was acting in accordance with international law. Saturday's live-fire drill took place in the Tasman Sea, broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported. On Friday, airlines including Qantas, Emirates and Air New Zealand had to modify flight paths between Australia and New Zealand after China broadcast a message that its navy would hold live-fire exercises in international waters off Australia's New South Wales state coast. Australia Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday that Beijing had failed to give satisfactory reasons for what he called inadequate notice of Friday's live-fire drill. The late notice was "disconcerting" for commercial aviation, he said. "When we do an activity of this kind, we would typically give 12 to 24 hours notice," Marles told broadcaster Nine Entertainment, according to a transcript. The warning by the Chinese vessels was at "very short notice," Marles said, without saying how many hours were given. Australia's defense force said there was no imminent risk of danger to Australian or New Zealand assets, the government said on Friday. "China did comply with international law and that's important to not suggest that that wasn't the case," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday in remarks televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian accused Australia of "deliberately hyping up" the drills, according to a release on Sunday. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in South Africa, saying they would discuss "safe and professional military conduct." Wang told the Australian foreign minister that bilateral ties had stabilized but he hoped Australia would continue to "properly handle any differences and disagreements," according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry on Saturday. There was no mention of China's military conduct in the statement. Friday's exercise took place after a People's Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel entered Australia's maritime approaches last week, and traveled down Australia's east coast this week, monitored by the navies and air forces of Australia and New Zealand. Australia this month complained about "unsafe and unprofessional" actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea. Beijing accused the Australian aircraft of "deliberately intruding" into its airspace. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that its claim to almost all of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by several Southeast Asia nations, was not supported by international law.
Japan Times
23-02-2025
- Japan Times
New Zealand says China navy held second round of live-fire drill in international waters
New Zealand said the Chinese navy conducted a live-fire exercise in international waters near the Pacific nation on Saturday, a day after it held a similar drill between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights. "Reporting from the New Zealand Defence Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon," a spokesperson for Defence Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. Personnel on New Zealand Navy frigate Te Kaha observed live rounds fired from a Chinese vessel's main gun, the statement said, adding that the task group had "advised via radio channels of its intent to conduct live firing."
The Guardian
22-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
China conducts second live-fire drill near New Zealand
China's navy has reportedly conducted a second live-fire exercise in international waters, a day after a similar drill forced multiple airlines to change flight paths between Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand navy personnel advised live rounds were fired from a Chinese warship in international waters near the island nation on Saturday. 'Reporting from the New Zealand Defence Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon,' a spokesperson for the defence minister, Judith Collins, said in a statement seen by Reuters. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email China's naval taskforce had given radio notice of its intent to conduct firing, and the NZ prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said the group had acted under international law. Anthony Albanese earlier bristled at suggestions he should get Beijing on the phone after China's military carried out a live-fire exercise off the Australian coast on Friday. The prime minister said senior Defence officials continued to monitor three Chinese warships after they were spotted moving south in international waters about 280km off Sydney on Thursday. The foreign minister, Penny Wong, met with her Chinese counterpart and demanded to know why the vessels only offered limited notice before the firing was carried out. In a post on X late on Friday night Australian eastern time, Wong said she met with China's foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in South Africa that day. 'Calm and consistent dialogue with China enables us to progress our interests and advocate on issues that matter to Australians,' Wong said. China's actions are believed to have complied with international law and the Australian Defence Force has advised there was no imminent threat to its assets or those of NZ. Analysts believed the sailing was an attempt by Beijing to project power and send a message to Canberra about China's capability. Albanese was asked on Saturday if he would call president Xi Jinping in light of the incident but instead defended China's right to carry out the exercise as it had not breached international law. 'It's important to not suggest that wasn't the case,' he said. 'What we have done is to make appropriate representation through diplomatic channels, including foreign minister to foreign minister. 'They could have given more notice but Australia has a presence from time to time in the South China Sea [and] this activity took place outside of our exclusive economic zone. Notification did occur.' Australia has coordinated its response with NZ but has not spoken with Anzus ally the United States since the incident. The opposition defence spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, suggested China's actions amounted to 'gunboat diplomacy'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'This is Chinese warships imposing themselves on our commercial airspace and that's why I come back to that question for the PM – where's his limit?' he told ABC Radio. '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?' The defence minister, Richard Marles, earlier said Australia had not received satisfactory answers when it queried 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,' he told Channel Seven. Australian officials said it was customary to give 24 to 48 hours notice of live fire activity. Qantas, Emirates and Air New Zealand modified flight paths between Australia and NZ after receiving reports of live firing in international waters. A Defence spokesperson said China advised via a radio broadcast on a civilian channel that it would carry out its drill. '[China] did not inform Defence of its intent to conduct a live fire activity and has not provided any further information,' a statement read. The live-fire exercise follows a run-in with the Chinese military last week when a fighter jet fired flares in front of an RAAF surveillance aircraft during a patrol over the South China Sea. The government lodged a complaint with Beijing over the near-miss. With Stephanie Convery and Reuters
Al Arabiya
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
New Zealand says China navy held second live-fire drill in international waters
New Zealand said the Chinese navy conducted a live-fire exercise in international waters near the Pacific nation on Saturday, a day after it held a similar drill between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights. 'Reporting from the New Zealand Defense Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon,' a spokesperson for Defense Minister Judith Collins said in a statement. Personnel on New Zealand Navy frigate Te Kaha observed live rounds fired from a Chinese vessel's main gun, the statement said, adding that the task group had 'advised via radio channels of its intent to conduct live firing.' Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said earlier on Saturday that it was unclear where the Chinese naval vessels were headed in international waters and for what purpose. 'What we are doing is monitoring and shadowing and tracking the fleet,' he said in Christchurch, adding that China was acting in accordance with international law. Saturday's live-fire drill took place in the Tasman Sea, broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported. On Friday, airlines including Qantas, Emirates and Air New Zealand had to modify flight paths between Australia and New Zealand after China broadcast a message that its navy would hold live-fire exercises in international waters off Australia's New South Wales state coast. Australia Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday Beijing had failed to give satisfactory reasons for what he called inadequate notice of Friday's live-fire drill. The late notice was 'disconcerting' for commercial aviation, he said. 'When we do an activity of this kind, we would typically give 12 to 24 hours notice,' Marles told broadcaster Nine Entertainment, according to a transcript. The warning by the Chinese vessels was at 'very short notice', Marles said, without saying how many hours were given. Australia's defense force said there was no imminent risk of danger to Australian or New Zealand assets, the government said on Friday. 'China did comply with international law and that's important to not suggest that that wasn't the case,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday in remarks televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday the naval exercises 'upheld safety standards and professional operations throughout in accordance with relevant international laws and international practices'. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in South Africa, saying they would discuss 'safe and professional military conduct'. Friday's exercise took place after a People's Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel entered Australia's maritime approaches last week, and travelled down Australia's east coast this week, monitored by the navies and air forces of Australia and New Zealand. Australia this month complained about 'unsafe and unprofessional' actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea. Beijing accused the Australian aircraft of 'deliberately intruding' into its airspace. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that its claim to almost all of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by several Southeast Asia nations, was not supported by international law.
