The Chinese naval task group initiated a live-firing drill in the Tasman Sea at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, catching Australian Defence officials by surprise. Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston revealed to Senate estimates that Air Services Australia was alerted to the exercise around 10 a.m. after commercial airlines intercepted a radio broadcast from the Chinese task group. This delayed notification meant that Australian Defence only became aware of the drills approximately 40 minutes after they began. The Chinese warships were located about 250 kilometers south of Tasmania within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Defence officials expressed concern over the lack of advance notice from China regarding the live-fire exercises. Air Services Australia informed Defence at roughly 10:10 a.m., highlighting a gap in communication that Admiral Johnston attributed to the more direct channels available to Air Services Australia compared to military procedures. He emphasized that the delay in notification was "inadequate" and stated that it would have been preferable for Australia's Defence to receive at least 24-48 hours' notice. Additionally, a Virgin Australia pilot notified Air Services Australia at 10:58 a.m., further indicating the delay in the Defence Force's awareness of the drills.
New Zealand's navy also picked up on the broadcast and passed the information to the Australian Defence Force, but this alert only reached them around 11:00 a.m. The potential presence of a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine accompanying the task force has further heightened concerns among Defence officials.
Admiral Johnston criticized China's navy for its "irresponsible" and "disruptive" behavior, underscoring the importance of timely notifications for exercises that could potentially impact both military and civilian operations. He remarked on the situation, noting:
"It's not really a notification for an upcoming exercise if we only find out about it after it's commenced." – Chief Admiral David Johnston
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