Alarm rippled through Australian and New Zealand corridors of power as a Chinese naval task group sailed through waters separating the antipodean nations, firing live rounds and causing commercial jetliners to divert.

Australia's defense forces, joined by New Zealand, have been monitoring Chinese navy vessels since they were spotted last week.

China in turn accused the Australian plane of "deliberately" intruding into airspace over the disputed Paracel Islands,

The shifting geopolitical landscape has opened new opportunities for Xi Jinping in his plans to wrest back control of Taiwan. Australia is increasingly exposed.

China’s naval presence and military exercises in the Tasman Sea—coming dangerously close to Australian and New Zealand air and sea routes—are more than just routine drills. This episode, where Chinese vessels reportedly conducted live-fire

China's naval exercise in the Tasman Sea has put Australia and New Zealand on alert, with Canberra calling it "unusual".