Australia warned airlines flying between Australian airports and New Zealand to beware of Chinese warships conducting a live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday. The three Chinese warships are conducting exercises off the Australian east coast. Several international flights had diverted as a result, ABC reported.

Australia was discussing with China about the notification and transparency around its naval exercises, “particularly live-fire exercises”, Wong said. Australian military ships and planes have been monitoring the Chinese warships for days as they pass in international waters off the Australian east coast.