🇳🇿🇨🇳 New Zealand Warships Transit Taiwan Strait, Drawing China Criticism

New Zealand’s naval frigate HMNZS Te Mana and replenishment ship HMNZS Aotearoa recently sailed through the Taiwan Strait during a three-month Indo-Pacific deployment.

New Zealand’s Defence Force said the transit was conducted under international law and described the route as international waters. China’s state-affiliated Global Times criticized the move, arguing that sending the two warships through the Taiwan Strait amounts to “showing presence” on an issue Beijing considers a core interest.

The report said Chinese forces tracked and monitored the vessels during their passage. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he did not expect a backlash from China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner.

Source: Global Times

#China #NewZealand #TaiwanStrait #Geopolitics