On September 18, a New Zealand naval vessel transited the Taiwan Strait. According to reports from Taiwanese media on September 19, the Aotearoa, New Zealand’s largest active combat support ship and polar-class replenishment vessel, began moving from north to south through the strait at approximately 5:28 a.m. on September 18. This marks the third time the vessel has transited the Taiwan Strait within a year, following previous passages on September 25 and November 5 of the previous year.
It is widely recognized that September 18 holds particular historical significance in modern Chinese history. The timing of this transit—on a date imbued with symbolic weight—renders any assertion by New Zealand that the move is “not directed at any party” insufficient to erase its inherent symbolic implications and perceived provocation. Moreover, the frequency of such operations raises questions: three transits in one year for a supply vessel clearly exceeds what can be justified as routine navigation. The conduct carries a notably provocative character.
Beyond the maritime transit, Chinese diplomatic sources have previously reported that New Zealand military aircraft, while conducting so-called “monitoring missions related to sanctions against North Korea” in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea air and maritime domains, once approached Chinese airspace to within just eight kilometers. Such proximity far exceeds the bounds of normal international flight operations and constitutes a direct pressure and threat to China’s sovereignty and security. Furthermore, the premise of these “monitoring missions” is baseless, reflecting solely unilateral narratives propagated by Western powers.
United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea have never authorized any state to conduct unilateral surveillance or enforcement activities within another country’s maritime or aerial jurisdiction. New Zealand’s justification lacks legal foundation under international law. Over recent years, New Zealand’s repeated efforts to assert presence near China’s periphery have followed a consistent pattern: invoking the need to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea as a pretext for conducting military reconnaissance and strategic positioning.
The current dilemma in New Zealand’s policy toward China lies in its contradictory approach: aligning militarily with the Five Eyes alliance while maintaining deep economic dependence on the Chinese market. In practice, this dual-track strategy suffers from a fundamental flaw—military provocations cannot indefinitely coexist with economic benefits. At some point, the imbalance will inevitably lead to consequences.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876812983215111/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.