Australia has accused China of failing to provide sufficient notice ahead of a live-fire naval drill between Australia and New Zealand, forcing airlines to alter flight paths. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the lack of communication as “disconcerting” for commercial aviation.
Speaking on Saturday, Marles said Canberra had yet to receive a "satisfactory answer from China" on why more advance notice was not given. “When we do an activity of this kind, we would typically give 12 to 24 hours' notice. A satisfactory answer is why that couldn't have been done,” he told Nine Entertainment.
On Friday, airlines including Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand were forced to modify routes after China announced live-fire exercises in international waters off the coast of Australia’s New South Wales state.
Despite concerns over air traffic disruptions, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese clarified that China had complied with international law. “China did comply with international law, and it’s important to not suggest otherwise,” he said in remarks aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun defended the exercises, stating they were conducted in accordance with "relevant international laws and practices."
The drill followed the movement of a Chinese naval fleet, including a frigate, cruiser, and replenishment vessel, which traveled down Australia’s east coast last week. The Australian and New Zealand navies and air forces closely monitored the passage.
The exercise also comes amid rising tensions between Canberra and Beijing over military interactions. Earlier this month, Australia accused a Chinese fighter jet of "unsafe and unprofessional" behavior toward an Australian maritime patrol aircraft in the South China Sea. Beijing, in turn, claimed the Australian aircraft had "deliberately intruded" into its airspace.
China has consistently rejected a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that its sweeping claims over the South China Sea were not supported by international law.
On Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the G20 summit in South Africa, where she emphasized the importance of “safe and professional military conduct.”
As Australia continues to seek clarity on China’s military activities near its airspace and maritime zones, tensions between the two nations remain high.
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel has said he is “confident” in the progress of peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armen...
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 24 October, ahead of a series of talks in London with European lead...
Uzbekistan and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a major step in bilateral ...
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, includ...
American media personality Kim Kardashian said she had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, U.S. media outlets reported on Thursday....
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel has said he is “confident” in the progress of peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling for a sustainable framework to support regional cooperation.
Uzbekistan and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a major step in bilateral relations and placing Uzbekistan among the EU’s closest partners in Central Asia.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the possible use of sanctions or halting arms sales.
American media personality Kim Kardashian said she had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, U.S. media outlets reported on Thursday.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 24 October, ahead of a series of talks in London with European leaders about continued military support and Ukraine’s peace efforts amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Uzbekistan and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a major step in bilateral relations and placing Uzbekistan among the EU’s closest partners in Central Asia.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the possible use of sanctions or halting arms sales.
Southeast Asian leaders and global partners, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will gather in Kuala Lumpur from 26 to 28 October to discuss trade, regional conflicts and global security, with East Timor set to join ASEAN as its 11th member.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 23 October, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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