China Warns Against 'Trouble' After New Zealand Warship Transits Taiwan Strait Amid Escalating Tensions

China Issues Stern Warning After New Zealand Warship Transits Taiwan Strait

Beijing has delivered a strong caution against any nation “stirring up trouble” within the Taiwan Strait. This warning comes after news surfaced of a New Zealand naval vessel recently navigating the geopolitically sensitive waterway. Chinese Ministry of Defence spokesman Jiang Bin articulated China's firm opposition to any actions perceived as “sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces,” confirming that the Chinese military closely observed the transit and responded effectively.

HMNZS Aotearoa's Rare Passage

Earlier in November, the HMNZS Aotearoa, the largest vessel in the New Zealand navy and an oiler, completed a rare journey through the strait. New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins confirmed the transit to Reuters, emphasizing that the operation adhered strictly to international law. This includes the fundamental right to freedom of navigation, as enshrined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ship reportedly sailed from the South China Sea into the North Asian region on November 5.

Chinese Monitoring and Simulated Attacks

This previously undisclosed mission involved the HMNZS Aotearoa being shadowed by an impressive contingent of seven different Chinese warships. The New Zealand Defence Force stated that these Chinese vessels maintained a “safe and professional distance” throughout the entire transit. However, a source with direct knowledge of the situation revealed a more intense scenario, suggesting that Chinese ships and aircraft closely monitored the Aotearoa, with Chinese jets allegedly conducting simulated attack maneuvers.

Conflicting Claims Over the Strait

Beijing views the democratically-governed Taiwan as an integral part of its territory and asserts sole sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait. In stark contrast, both the United States and Taiwan maintain that the strait is an international waterway. This maritime corridor is critically important, serving as a major global trade route through which approximately half of all container ships worldwide pass.

Coinciding Patrols and Regional Tensions

The transit by the HMNZS Aotearoa coincided with Taiwan's disclosure that China had, on November 6, conducted another “joint combat readiness patrol” around the island. This patrol involved J-16 fighter jets and was concentrated both within the strait and to Taiwan's southwest. Taiwan's defence ministry issued a statement affirming its armed forces' “comprehensive awareness of all military activities across the region and respond appropriately, ensuring national defence security,” though it refrained from elaborating further.

The South Korea-built Aotearoa, primarily a replenishment vessel, is equipped to carry a helicopter but does not carry heavy armaments. In October, the New Zealand Defence Force announced the ship's plans to participate in United Nations sanctions enforcement missions related to North Korea, operating around Japan.

New Zealand's Stance and Broader Context

While New Zealand, like most nations, does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Taipei regards Wellington as an important like-minded democratic partner, and both operate de facto embassies in each other's capitals. Significantly, New Zealand is one of only two major countries, alongside Singapore, to have a free trade agreement with Taiwan.

The Taiwan Strait frequently witnesses transits by US warships, actions that consistently provoke strong condemnation from Beijing. Additionally, other US allies, including Canada and Britain, have made occasional passages. Over the past five years, China has markedly intensified its military activities around Taiwan, including extensive war games, as it has consistently refused to rule out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan's democratically-elected government steadfastly rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.