Exclusive: Newly released audio has revealed how Australian air traffic controllers and flights in the area reacted when a pilot discovered China was conducting live-fire naval drills in the Tasman Sea earlier this year.

The calls, obtained by 9News under freedom of information laws, for the first time shed light on the moment the alarm was raised by a Virgin Australia pilot about the exercises in February, before any Australian authorities were aware of their existence.

"We just had a warning from a Chinese naval taskforce that they're doing a live firing exercise… is anyone aware of that?" he asked.

Air traffic control confirmed that no notice of the drills had been provided, and asked the pilot if the Chinese flotilla had advised what altitude it would be firing to.

"Negative," t

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