February 28, 2025 | 03:52 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China's ambassador to Australia said on Friday his country had no reason to apologise for the military drills it conducted in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced at least 49 flights to change path.
Both Australia and New Zealand have raised concerns with Beijing on the rare live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea last week, saying they did not receive adequate notice from China's navy.
Ambassador Xiao Qian said China's navy conducted drills that complied with international law and gave advance notice following international practices.
"I don't see there is any reason why the Chinese side should feel sorry about that, or even to think about to apologise for that," Xiao told national broadcaster ABC News in an interview.
"Different countries have different practice and based on the nature of the drill, size of the drill, and the scope of the drill, my view is that the Chinese naval certification advice was appropriate."
Xiao said the drills did not pose any threat to Australia, one of its largest trading partners, and suggested Canberra should expect more Chinese ships sailing in the region in the future.
"As a major power in this region, as a country that has so many things to look after, it is normal for China to send their vessels to different parts of the region to conduct various kinds of activities," Xiao told ABC News.
A frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel that formed the Chinese navy task group has continued west on Friday, across the Great Australian Bight, the New Zealand Defence Force said.
Australian air traffic control agency officials this week told a parliamentary committee that a Virgin Australia pilot alerted them first about the live-fire drill after a message from the Chinese task group was broadcast on an emergency radio channel monitored mostly by pilots.
David Johnston, Australia's defence chief, told the committee on Thursday it was likely the Defence Department came to know about the drill more than 30 minutes after it started.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, trailing in polls ahead of a national election due by May, has downplayed the incident, saying the drills occurred in international waters and that China did not break any maritime laws.
But the opposition Liberal-National coalition said it would be a major incident if the Australian Defence force became aware of the drills late and had to be alerted by a commercial pilot.
REUTERS
Editor's Choice: Race for 2031 Asian Cup Heats up as South Korea Expresses Interest
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Australia Criticizes Thailand's Deportation of Uyghurs to China
24 menit lalu
Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority numbering about 10 million in the country.
Trump Vows March 4 Tariffs for Mexico, Canada, Extra 10% for China Over Fentanyl
5 jam lalu
U.S. President Donald Trump vows to impose another 10% tariff on Chinese goods March 4.
U.S.-China Trade War Brings Chinese Factories to Indonesia's Kendal SEZ
18 jam lalu
In addition to the trade war, fiscal incentives offered by the Indonesian government also encourage the relocation of Chinese factories to Kendal SEZ.
Taiwan Detects 45 Chinese Aircrafts in 24 Hours
20 jam lalu
Chinese fighter jets have flown around Taiwan in the past 24 hours.
North Korea Deploys More Troops to Russia, Reports Say
21 jam lalu
Sources in South Korean intelligence have indicated that North Korea has sent additional troops to Russia, but the exact number is unknown.
Kadin Claims Three Countries Eyeing to Build Nuclear Power Plants in Indonesia
22 jam lalu
Vice Chair of Kadin for the Energy and Mineral Resources Sector, Aryo Djojohadikusumo, stated that the United States, Russia, and China have submitted proposals for the development of nuclear power plants in Indonesia.
Transgender US Service Members to be Removed from Military, Pentagon Memo Shows
23 jam lalu
A Pentagon memo filed in court essentially banned transgender from joining or serving in the U.S. military unless they receive an exemption.
Looking for Extra Cash? Here Are 8 Best Part Time Jobs in Australia
1 hari lalu
Dive into some of the best part time jobs that let you earn extra income while maintaining the perfect study-life balance in Australia.
Hong Kong to Slash 10,000 Civil Service Jobs, Push AI in Bid to Reverse Deficit
1 hari lalu
Hong Kong's small and open economy has also been vulnerable to external headwinds.
Deputy Foreign Minister Reveals Escalating Maritime Conflicts in the World
2 hari lalu
Indonesia's Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno reveals the potential maritime conflicts in the world.
