Commercial airlines flying across the Tasman Sea were diverted after Chinese warships warned they planned live-fire exercises in international waters off Australia’s eastern coast, in an unexpected escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Australia has warned commercial airlines that Chinese warships are conducting “live fire” military exercises off the country’s east coast, prompting them to reroute flights. The Financial Times revealed this week that a Chinese naval task group comprising two warships and a supply vessel had travelled within 150 nautical miles of Sydney,

China warned Australia Friday of potential "live fire" naval drills in international waters off the eastern coast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, as commercial flights were told to steer clear