A murky picture has emerged over China’s live-fire drills. Who knew what when?

<p>Here’s what we know about how Australia learned about Chinese navy exercises held in the Tasman Sea over two days</p><ul><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>In the five days since <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/21/commercial-flights-diverted-as-chinese-warships-undertake-apparent-live-fire-drill-in-sea-between-australia-and-new-zealand">Chinese navy ships held live-fire drills</a> in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, an unclear picture has emerged of who knew what – and when.</p><p>Australian Senate estimates heard the first knowledge Australian authorities had of the potentially dangerous live-fire activity was through a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/25/australia-china-navy-live-firing-drill-updates-airservices">civilian pilot flying a commercial flight</a> over the area. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said the New Zealand navy notified Australia “at about the same time” as the pilot notified Airservices Australia.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/27/a-murky-picture-has-emerged-over-chinese-live-fire-drills-who-knew-what-when">Continue reading...</a>