Key Points
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese directly raised concerns about Chinese live-fire naval exercises during a high-profile meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
- China's naval drills in the Tasman Sea earlier this year led to the diversion of dozens of commercial flights between Australia and New Zealand and drew stern responses from Canberra and Wellington.
- Albanese requested greater advance notice of such military activities and transparency from Beijing, but President Xi and Chinese officials insisted all operations were in line with international law.
- China dismissed Australia's complaints as "hyped up" and "inconsistent with the facts," reiterating that safety notices were issued ahead of time and denying any breach of international protocols.
- Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles backed the PM's call for transparency, expressing dissatisfaction with the brief notice given for the exercises and emphasizing the need for clear communication to avoid unnecessary risks.
- The exercises occurred in international waters, and both sides acknowledged there were no immediate risks to Australian or New Zealand assets.
- The dispute emerged amidst an attempted thaw in bilateral ties, with both leaders emphasizing pragmatic cooperation on trade, climate, and security while managing deep disagreements.
- Neither Taiwan nor the Chinese lease of the Port of Darwin were discussed in detail during the Beijing meetings, according to Albanese.
- The leaders acknowledged tensions but underscored a commitment to dialogue, stability, and finding common ground despite ongoing strategic and economic rivalries.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping for greater transparency and advance warning regarding China’s naval live-fire drills near Australia, as both leaders sought to stabilize and build on a fragile diplomatic thaw following recent years of sharp acrimony and escalating military activity in the Asia-Pacific region.
What Did Albanese Say About the Chinese Military Drills?
As reported by ABC News Australia and covered by the BBC, Anthony Albanese, speaking in the wake of a closely watched bilateral meeting in Beijing, confirmed he had “urged President Xi to provide more notice before undertaking live-fire naval exercises” such as those held in the Tasman Sea earlier this year. Speaking to reporters, Albanese said,
“I have raised with President Xi my preference, and that of the Australian government, for clearer advance notification and transparency around these sorts of exercises, in order to safeguard civilian air traffic and maritime activity.”
According to Philip Wen of the Financial Times, Albanese confronted Xi on the issue, referencing the February Chinese naval maneuvers for which Beijing gave commercial airlines just hours of warning. Albanese underscored that while China’s activities occurred in international waters and did not violate international law, “we would have preferred much more notice so that there wasn’t this disconcerting set of circumstances,” echoing comments made by Defense Minister Richard Marles.
How Did Beijing Respond to the Australian Complaint?
As reported by Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry and cited by Anadolu Agency and the Saudi Gazette, China's reaction was swift and categorical:
“The Australian side’s remarks are completely inconsistent with the facts. The Chinese navy’s exercises were in full compliance with international law and international practice... and China issued multiple safety notices in advance”.
Wu called Australia’s concerns “hyped up,” stressing that the drills were conducted “in international waters far from Australia’s coastline.”
According to China’s state broadcaster CGTN and further summarized by the South China Morning Post, Beijing maintained that all necessary precautions were taken and that Canberra’s complaints amounted to political posturing. China’s representatives admonished “deliberate attempts to mislead the international community with false narratives regarding Chinese military activities.”
Why Did the Naval Drills Cause Concern?
According to reporting by BBC and Wikipedia, on February 21, commercial airlines including Emirates, Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand were warned mid-flight to adjust their routes as China’s navy announced it would conduct live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea—hundreds of nautical miles off Australia’s east coast, but within regions transited by international civilian airliners. Airlines responded by diverting flights, and both the Australian and New Zealand defense forces monitored the exercises from the air and sea.
Roger Maynard of the BBC detailed that Australia’s defense forces "were not directly informed by Beijing," learning of the exercise from commercial aircraft and, subsequently, from New Zealand authorities. The Royal Australian Navy and Air Force monitored but observed “no imminent risk to any assets of Australia or New Zealand.”
Did President Xi Address Albanese’s Concerns Directly?
As covered by Jane Norman for ABC News, President Xi Jinping “appeared to shrug off Anthony Albanese’s concerns,” stating that “China engaged in exercises just as Australia engages in exercises”. During their meeting, President Xi did not make any commitments to change notification procedures for future maneuvers and emphasized that both countries’ militaries routinely operate within international norms and laws.
During the same meeting, as reported by The Nightly, President Xi highlighted the “turnaround” in China-Australia relations, praising the outcome as “tangible benefits to both peoples” and stressing the need for “equal treatment and respect for differences” to maintain positive momentum in the partnership. He did not present new grievances related to Australia’s foreign investment rules or Canberra’s efforts to reclaim the lease of the Port of Darwin from a Chinese company.
What Has Australia’s Defense Ministry Said About the Incident?
According to statements recorded by Anadolu Agency, BBC, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Defense Minister Richard Marles expressed dissatisfaction with the “short notice” provided by Beijing and called for “much more advance warning” to avoid confusion and ensure security for civilian air and maritime traffic.
Marles, as cited by The Saudi Gazette, emphasized that “China had not broken international law,” but added, “the issue for us is one of notification and transparency”. Marles further confirmed that discussions with Chinese counterparts had not yielded a “satisfactory answer” for why Australia learned of the exercises from commercial air traffic intercepted mid-flight rather than through government-to-government channels.
What Was the Chinese Military’s Explanation for the Drills?
China’s Defense Ministry maintained that the naval task group had “repeatedly issued safety notices” and that all maneuvers were “carried out safely, in a standard and professional manner, in compliance with relevant international laws and practices,” as reported by BBC and other international outlets. Beijing characterized the drills as routine, insisting that such activities were no different from military practices conducted by other nations, including Australia.
Were There Any Immediate Risks to Civilian or Military Assets?
As outlined by Albanese and documented by multiple sources, including Reuters and The Guardian, there was no direct threat to civilian or military assets of Australia or New Zealand throughout the exercises. While commercial flights were diverted to avoid the affected airspace, Australian defense monitored the maneuvers and reaffirmed there was “no imminent risk,” stating the incident was handled in accordance with international law.
Were Other Sensitive Issues Discussed Between Xi and Albanese?
According to The Nightly and the Financial Times, neither the contentious Chinese lease of the Port of Darwin nor the issue of Taiwan was a central topic in the discussions. Prime Minister Albanese confirmed at a press conference that “the Port of Darwin was not raised” during the Beijing talks, and that he simply “reaffirmed Australia’s longstanding position on Taiwan”. Coalition frontbencher James Paterson commented separately that it would be “inappropriate for the US to pressure Australia into any specific stance on a Taiwan conflict” and that such matters had not been pressured by Xi in the meeting.
Other issues addressed in the meetings—according to coverage by Al Jazeera and SCMP—included trade, energy transition, and collaboration on green economic policies, with both leaders agreeing to pursue cooperation while managing disagreements through ongoing dialogue.
What Does This Incident Mean for China-Australia Relations?
Katrina Yu of Al Jazeera described the tone of the Beijing summit as “warm,” with Xi and Albanese both lauding the “turnaround” in bilateral relations following a turbulent period from 2020 to 2022 characterized by political friction and economic coercion. Albanese’s approach was summarized as “cooperation where possible, disagreement where necessary”—a stance echoed by Chinese state media as conducive to finding common ground even amid differences.
While China seeks to deepen trade ties and present itself as a stable partner in the face of U.S. tariffs and changing global dynamics, Australia remains committed to balancing economic interests with national security considerations and alliance commitments—particularly in light of China’s growing military reach and assertiveness in the region.
How Has the Public and Media Responded in Australia?
Analysis from Sky News and local commentators has been critical of the government’s response, with some voices, including Peta Credlin, describing China’s maneuvers as “deliberate military provocation and intimidation.” Credlin noted that “the Prime Minister at the time said, 'this is all lawful and perfectly reasonable'”—a position that drew varying degrees of approval and concern from the Australian public and political opposition.
Nonetheless, the consensus across Australian mainstream media and official channels is that incidents like these underscore “the unpredictable and challenging relationship” between Canberra and Beijing, reinforcing calls for clear communication, advance notice, and adherence to the rules-based international order.
In summary, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s direct appeal to President Xi Jinping over China’s live-fire naval drills highlights the delicate balancing act facing both leaders. While China insists it abided by international protocols and seeks closer ties with Australia, Canberra continues to stress the importance of transparency and communication as critical to ensuring the safety and stability of one of the world’s most volatile regions.