China Says No Apology Needed for Live-Fire Drills

China doesn’t even need to think about apologizing for how it handled notifications about its live-fire naval drills off the Australian coast, according to its ambassador, Xiao Qian.

Speaking to the ABC, Xiao downplayed concerns about the exercises, saying they posed "no threat" to Australia and were just standard practice for navies worldwide. He insisted China had followed normal international protocols when notifying other countries—despite the fact that Australian authorities only found out about the drills after they’d already started, thanks to a passing Virgin Airlines pilot.

“There should be no over-reading into this,” Xiao said, emphasizing that China and Australia are “comprehensive strategic partners.”

A statement from the Chinese embassy reinforced that point, saying:

"The term ‘partner’ indicates that the two countries are friends, not foes or rivals... There is no need for Australia to feel concerned about the actions of the Chinese fleet."

But Australian defense officials told Senate estimates this week that the first warning they got came from a civilian pilot flying near the Chinese ships. The pilot heard a broadcast from the vessels themselves, warning they were conducting live-fire drills. That message was passed back to Australian authorities before a New Zealand navy ship—shadowing the Chinese flotilla—sent a similar notice. Once officials got word, commercial flights in the area had to be rerouted mid-flight.

On Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the Chinese vessels had moved further south, near the border of Australia’s exclusive economic zone. He reassured the public that the fleet was being closely monitored, with the Australian frigate HMAS Stuart and New Zealand’s HMNZS Te Kaha keeping an eye on them.

Albanese said that while China was acting within international law, his government made it clear that more notice should have been given. “We’ve made it very clear that we expect more notice to have been given and we have protested,” he said.

But Xiao dismissed that concern, arguing China gave appropriate notice based on the size and scope of the drills. “Different countries have different practices,” he said. “My view is that the Chinese naval certification advice was appropriate.” He also pointed out that international law doesn’t specify exactly when or how advance warnings should be given for naval exercises.

“I don’t see there’s any reason why the Chinese side should feel sorry about that, or even think about apologizing,” he added.

Confusion in the Skies

Newly uncovered communications between air traffic controllers and pilots reveal there was significant confusion when the drills began.

On Friday morning, Australian air traffic control sent hazard alerts to nearby aircraft, including a Singapore Airlines flight and an Air New Zealand flight. Around midday, Air New Zealand pilots radioed ground control, saying, “Hi, lots of chatter on 121.5 including Chinese navy.”

Later, an airline dispatcher sent another message:

"Unannounced live firing in Tasman to the north of you by Chinese military... Below is all we know."

Normally, military drills and airspace hazards are communicated to pilots through official Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) at least 24 hours in advance. But when two American Airlines flights approached Sydney and Brisbane early Saturday morning, an airline dispatcher confirmed: “We don’t have a NOTAM in effect for the Chinese exercise.”

What Happens Next?

Both Australia and China have acknowledged that the drills were conducted in international waters and within the boundaries of international law.

The Chinese flotilla—made up of the Hengyang frigate, the Zunyi cruiser, and the Weishanhu replenishment vessel—sailed from Australia’s north down the east coast, reportedly getting as close as 150 nautical miles from Sydney before heading into the Tasman Sea for live-fire drills. Defense officials have even suggested a nuclear submarine may have been accompanying the surface ships, though that hasn’t been confirmed.

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles urged calm, pointing out that China isn’t the only country conducting military operations near foreign waters. “It’s really important that we take a deep breath here,” he said, adding that Australian naval ships operate near China’s waters more frequently than Chinese ships operate near Australia.

Meanwhile, Xiao rejected any connection between these naval exercises and a recent air incident over the South China Sea. Earlier this month, an Australian P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft encountered a Chinese J-16 fighter jet, which released flares dangerously close to it. Australia called the maneuver “unsafe and unprofessional,” but China has blamed Australia for the incident, claiming the Australian plane was violating Chinese airspace.

Despite all the diplomatic tension, China is standing firm: It sees no reason to apologize for the naval drills—and it doesn’t plan to anytime soon.