From johnmenadue.com: Australia experienced a significant intelligence failure when it was unaware of a live-fire drill conducted by Chinese warships near its waters, which was first reported by a civilian airline pilot rather than through its defence capabilities.

The incident raised concerns about the effectiveness of Australia’s surveillance and communication systems, particularly in the context of its alliance with the United States.

Calls for a formal inquiry into the failure have emerged, seeking to understand the failure to detect the threat.