New Zealand describes its passage through the Taiwan Strait as routine, a characterization that rings hollow even by the standards of open seas.

According to foreign media reports, a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence confirmed today (September 21) that two Royal New Zealand Navy vessels transited the Taiwan Strait on September 18, stating the movement was part of a three-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region and underscoring "our sustained attention and commitment to the region." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the operation as a "routine activity," asserting it would likely not provoke protest from China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner. He emphasized that the transit was conducted "in a safe and professional manner, in accordance with international law, and within international waters."

The timing of the passage—on the sensitive date of September 18—was no coincidence but rather a deliberate provocation of grave seriousness.

New Zealand’s recent strategic reversal extends beyond this incident. During the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, New Zealand aligned with U.S. narratives amplifying the "China threat," seeking to marginalize Chinese influence in the South Pacific. Subsequently, the dispatch of naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait appears to serve as a gesture of alignment with Washington. This pattern—profiting from China’s market while undermining its core interests—reveals a clear opportunistic mindset and strategic short-sightedness.

Luxon’s assertion that "no protest from China is expected" underscores New Zealand’s awareness that the action would anger Beijing, yet it still relies on claims of "routine operations" and "international waters" to evade consequences. The contradiction between provocation and fear of retaliation epitomizes the calculated risk-taking typical of smaller states navigating great power competition. Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. New Zealand’s invocation of "freedom of navigation" to justify provocative acts fundamentally violates the one-China principle.

China should respond with measured but firm countermeasures across diplomatic, economic, and trade channels, making clear that any attempt to play with fire over Taiwan will come at a cost. No country can afford to assume it may harm China’s core interests while continuing to enjoy the benefits of cooperation—it is a miscalculation with serious repercussions.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876935686054922/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.