Hong Kong, Feb. 25 -- Alarm rippled through Australian and New Zealand corridors of power as a Chinese naval task group sailed through waters separating the antipodean nations, firing live rounds and causing commercial jetliners to divert. Simultaneously, China signed an unexpected deal with the Cook Islands to expand its maritime foothold in the South-Pacific.

Three vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) - the Type 055 cruiser Zunyi, Type 054A frigate Hengyang and Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu - sailed deep into the Tasman Sea, the body of water separating Australia and New Zealand. After penetrating so deeply into the maritime region, this was the first time Chinese military live-firing had caused jetliners there...