The Defense Chief of Australia cannot say whether there is a submarine with the Chinese Navy task group that travels in the country's exclusive economic zone.
Admiraal David Johnston told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday that the People's Liberation Army-Navy is 250 km south of Hobart.
Liberal senator James Paterson asked whether the three Chinese warships would probably receive support from a submarine.
“I don't know if there is a submarine with it. It is possible, task groups occasionally implement submarines, but not always. I can't be final or that is the case, “said Adml Johnston …
Airservices Australia has confirmed that the organization is aware of the risk for aircraft at 9.58 hours on Friday after a virgin pilot heard the transmission on an emergency frequency.
ADML Johnston labeled the notification of the Chinese army as 'insufficient'.
“The behavior of their activities was clearly disruptive,” he said.
“It does not show the best practice we would expect from Mariners who are active in that region, so it certainly lacks the standard that we apply to ourselves, and in that sense it was irresponsible.”
ADF Chief Admiraal David Johnston says that the People's Liberation Army-Navy is 250 km south of Harbar
Chinese by the State Runned Media have released threatening images of his live fire exercises performed in the Tasman Sea (photo)
He said there was no prior notice of the Chinese army or the government before the live shooting exercise on Friday and then Saturday.
ADML Johnston said that the Australian army did not have fired near civil aircraft or civil maritime routes.
Defense secretary Greg Moriarty said he thought the Chinese 'signal'.
“They practice and rehearse, and they gather,” he said.
Forty -nine flights had to be diverted on Friday because of the broadcast of the Chinese Navy that undertook the dangerous activities.
The Minister of Defense of Nieuw -Zeeland, Judith Collins, warned that the warships are 'extreme capable'
