BEIJING (Reuters) – The esteemed foreign minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, revealed that he highlighted apprehensions regarding China’s covert live-fire exercises conducted in the Tasman Sea during his discussions with Chinese officials on Wednesday. Peters expressed disappointment over the lack of prior notification provided to New Zealand concerning the military maneuvers unfolding off its shores, which he disclosed to reporters in Beijing following a crucial meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
“This shortfall in communication within our special relationship at present is concerning, and we are eager to see this rectified moving forward,” stated Peters. His visit to Beijing, encompassing a three-day itinerary, comes against the backdrop of strained relations between the two nations stemming from the aforementioned drills. Reports from both New Zealand and Australia indicated that China had executed live-firing drills in the international waters situated between the two countries, affording limited notice and compelling commercial flights to alter their routes.
As per statements from the New Zealand Defence Force, the three Chinese vessels were initially positioned south of Tasmania within Australia’s exclusive economic zone before changing course to the west. Peters further addressed China’s missile launch test in September, which saw a ballistic missile landing perilously close to the exclusive economic zone of French Polynesia, without any forewarning to most Pacific Island nations and only minimal alert to New Zealand.
“In discussions, the Chinese authorities evinced contemplation on the matter of issuing advanced notice for upcoming naval exercises,” Peters remarked. The foreign minister is also scheduled to embark on visits to Mongolia and South Korea as part of his diplomatic engagements.
(Reporting by Laurie Chen; Writing by Shi Bu and Ethan Wang; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Ros Russell)
