Why China’s controversial navy drills have triggered a row with Australia and New Zealand - Beijing’s unexpected exercises disrupted flights and fuelled regional security debates

Alarm rippled through Australian and New Zealand corridors of power as a Chinese naval task group sailed through the waters separating the Antipodean nations, firing live rounds and diverting commercial jetliners.

The term gamechanger is often over used enough to be rendered meaningless, but the huge Simandou mine in the West African country of Guinea is going to be just that as its start up is set to rock the seaborne iron ore market.

The Chinese naval task group, consisting of three vessels, is now operating east of the Australian island of Tasmania.