By Kirsty Needham, Lucy Craymer and Lisa Barrington SYDNEY/WELLINGTON (Reuters) -Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised concerns with her Chinese counterpart on Friday over inadequate notice given by the Chinese navy of a rare live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights.

Commercial airliners flying over the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand were forced to reroute their flights on Friday morning Australian time because of a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) action group warning that it would conduct live-fire drills.

Australia said Saturday it has not received a satisfactory explanation from Beijing after Chinese warships off its east coast broadcast a "disconcerting" live-fire warning that forced commercial flights to change course.

Australia says it detected no live firing from Chinese naval ships off its east coast, despite the vessels broadcasting a warning that forced commercial flights to detour.

The Australian government is demanding answers from Beijing after commercial flights had to divert over the Tasman Sea after they received last-minute alert of Chinese warship exercises.

SYDNEY: China warned Australia on Friday (Feb 21) of potential "live fire" naval drills in international waters off the eastern coast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, as commercial flights were told to steer clear of the area.

China’s military is gaining in size and strength, and seeking to increase its ability to project power far from home.