Australia accused China on Saturday of failing to provide adequate reasons for what it termed insufficient notice of a live-fire drill conducted in waters between Australia and New Zealand, which led to airlines diverting their flights.

Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that the government has yet to receive "a satisfactory answer from China regarding the notice" for the drills, which he described as "disconcerting" for commercial aviation. "When we conduct such activities, we typically provide 12 to 24 hours notice," Marles told Nine Entertainment, as per a transcript. "A satisfactory answer is why this couldn't have been done."

On Friday, airlines like Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand had to alter their flight paths between Australia and New Zealand after China announced that its navy would carry out live-fire exercises in international waters off the coast of New South Wales.

Australia's defence force assured that there was no immediate danger to Australian or New Zealand assets. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that "China complied with international law, and it's important not to suggest otherwise," during remarks televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated on Friday that the naval exercises "maintained safety standards and professional operations throughout, in accordance with relevant international laws and practices."

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday during a Group of 20 meeting in South Africa, where they discussed "safe and professional military conduct."

The exercise followed the entry of a People's Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser, and replenishment vessel into Australia's maritime approaches last week, traveling along Australia's east coast, and monitored by the navies and air forces of Australia and New Zealand.

Earlier this month, Australia complained about "unsafe and unprofessional" actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea. Beijing accused the Australian aircraft of "deliberately intruding" into its airspace. China rejects the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea were unsupported by international law, parts of which are also claimed by several Southeast Asian nations.