Reported at www.abc.net.au: Director-general of the Office of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer stated that China’s deployment of three warships to the Tasman Sea appears to be provocative and aims to influence Australia’s behaviour.

He indicated this operation is the furthest south a People’s Liberation Army-Navy group has operated, with expectations of normalising their presence in the region.

Reports confirmed that commercial airline pilots have been monitoring communications from the Chinese vessels regarding potential live-fire exercises, leading to multiple flight diversions.