Australia confronts China over apparent live-fire exercises conducted off coastline

Australia's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confronted her Chinese counterpart after Chinese warships conducted apparent live-fire exercises at short notice on Friday, forcing commercial aircraft to change course. In a post on X late on Friday night Australian eastern time, Wong said she met with China's foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in South Africa that day. "Calm and consistent dialogue with China enables us to progress our interests and advocate on issues that matter to Australians," Wong said. The live-fire drills have raised tensions between the countries, despite the conduct…