China says ‘no reason’ to apologize over live-fire drills off Australia

ISTANBUL

China’s ambassador to Australia said Friday that Beijing has “no reason” to apologize to Australia, nor do the live-fire drills conducted on Friday “pose a threat” to Canberra.

“I don't see there's any reason why the Chinese side should feel sorry about that or even apologize for that,” Qian Xiao said, adding: “There's no reason for us to pose threat to Australia,” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

On Wednesday, Australia said that the three Chinese warships that were involved in live-fire drills on Friday in the Tasman Sea — a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean between Australia and New Zealand — last week re-entered its exclusive economic zone and were near Tasmania.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also told reporters Friday that the warships are 593 kilometers (368 miles) southwest of Adelaide by the time of his speech.

The exclusive economic zone is a maritime area that extends from 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) to 370 kilometers (230 miles) from the Australian coastline, over which Canberra has jurisdiction and sovereign rights.

The ambassador said there was nothing unusual about the drill and that China would continue to sail throughout the world, adding that China had given advance notice to Australia before conducting the drill.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also said Thursday that the Chinese fleet’s presence was based on legal principles.