It was a Virgin Australia pilot who first raised the alarm. At 9.58am on Friday Feb 21, the pilot intercepted a warning from the Chinese navy: a flotilla of warships were conducting live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea,

Amid the furore, no-one has suggested that the Chinese “live fire” exercises were a military threat, were not held in international waters or that China had no right to carry them out.

An unusual series of military exercises by Chinese warships in the sea between Australia and New Zealand has prompted reproval from leaders in both countries about the amount of warning given

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says Chinese warships around Australia were a “real wake up call”. The Australian military faced criticism after it was revealed that commercial pilots had detected Chinese warships conducting live-fire drills along the east coast before military officials were informed.