The Chinese navy has reportedly conducted a second live-fire drill in international waters, a similar exercise that has forced several airlines to change flight routes between Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand naval officials advised that a Chinese warship conducted live-fire drills in international waters near the island on Saturday.

“New Zealand Defence Force reports that the Chinese naval task force has instructed a second window for live-fire activities on Saturday afternoon,” a spokesman for Defence Minister Judith Collins said in a statement seen by Reuters.

The Chinese naval task force had given a radio announcement of its intention to fire, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Laxon said the group had acted within international law.

Anthony Albanese had previously been furious at suggestions that Beijing should have been contacted by phone after the Chinese military conducted a live-fire exercise off the Australian coast on Friday.

The prime minister said senior security officials had continued to monitor three Chinese warships after they were spotted sailing south in international waters about 280km from Sydney on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart to demand to know why the ships were given only limited notice before the firing.

In a post on X on Friday night, Australian Eastern Time, Wong said she had met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa that day.

“A calm and steady dialogue with China allows us to advance our interests and stand up for issues that matter to Australians,” Wong said.

China’s actions are believed to be in line with international law and the Australian Defence Force has said there is no imminent threat to its assets or those of New Zealand.

Analysts believe the sailing is an attempt by Beijing to project power and send a message to Canberra about China’s capabilities.

President Xi Jinping was asked on Saturday whether he would defend China’s right to conduct the exercise as it did not violate international law.

“It’s important not to suggest that that’s not the case,” he said.

“What we have done is provide appropriate representation through diplomatic channels, including the foreign minister.

“They could have given more notice, but Australia has an occasional presence in the South China Sea [and] this activity took place outside our exclusive economic zone. Notice was given.”

Australia has coordinated its response with New Zealand but has not spoken to Ansuz’s ally, the United States, since the incident.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie suggested China’s actions amounted to “gunboat diplomacy.”

“These Chinese warships are intruding on our commercial airspace, so I come back to that question for the prime minister – where is his line?” he told ABC radio.

“Why is he being weak on this? Why doesn’t he pick up the phone and make representations to the Australian people and our national interests?”

Defence Minister Richard Marles previously said Australia had not received satisfactory answers when asked about the incident.

“They did give notice of a live-fire exercise, but at very short notice, which meant it was very frustrating for the aircraft in the air,” he told Channel Seven.

Australian officials said it was customary to give 24 to 48 hours’ notice of live-fire activity.

Qantas, Emirates and Air New Zealand changed flight routes between Australia and New Zealand after receiving reports of live-fire over international waters.

A defence spokesman said China had advised it of its exercise via a radio broadcast on a civilian channel.

“[China] has not notified the defence ministry of its intention to conduct a live-fire exercise and no further details have been provided,” a statement said.

The live-fire exercise came after a fighter jet fired in front of an RAAF surveillance plane while it was on patrol in the South China Sea last week.

The government lodged a complaint with Beijing over the near-miss.