BEIJING — On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Defense responded to what it called “unreasonable accusations” from Australia, stating that they have exaggerated the situation regarding three aircraft that altered their flight paths midair due to live-fire exercises conducted by the Chinese navy.

Wu Qian, a prominent spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, emphasized that China had issued prior safety alerts about the drills. He asserted that these activities adhered to international laws and did not pose a threat to aviation safety. Wu’s comments were made public through a statement released on the Ministry’s official channel.

Reports from Australian media indicated that on Friday, three passenger flights traveling from Sydney to Christchurch and Queenstown were advised mid-flight by a Chinese warship about ongoing live-fire exercises, prompting the aircraft to change their routes. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed that no passengers were in danger, while noting the Australian navy typically provides a notice of 12 to 24 hours prior to such drills, allowing airlines to adjust their operations accordingly.

In a meeting on Saturday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Johannesburg, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong sought clarification regarding the military exercises. Following a G20 foreign ministers’ gathering, Wong commented on the importance of safe military practices, human rights concerns, and specific cases requiring consular attention. She also raised the issue of the lack of advance notification regarding the Chinese naval live-fire drills.

The presence of three Chinese naval ships—consisting of a frigate, a cruiser, and a replenishment vessel—had raised the interest of defense authorities in both Australia and New Zealand shortly before the flights were diverted. Marles described the naval activities as atypical, although he acknowledged that they were not without precedent.