New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, engaged in discussions with senior Chinese officials on Wednesday, shortly after his government and Australia expressed concerns regarding China’s recent naval exercises. The two nations had asserted that Chinese warships should have provided more advanced notification before conducting live-fire drills in waters between them.
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency did not address the issue of military exercises in its initial coverage of Peters’ meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. Instead, the report highlighted the mutual commitment of both nations to strengthening their bilateral relationship. According to Xinhua, both Han and Peters acknowledged the significance of fostering diplomatic and economic ties, with Peters reaffirming New Zealand’s willingness to enhance trade and commercial cooperation. China remains the primary export destination for both New Zealand and Australia, underscoring the economic importance of the relationship.
The concerns over China’s military activities arose last Friday when commercial flights operating between Australia and New Zealand had to alter their routes abruptly. The disruption occurred after Chinese naval vessels issued warnings to pilots, notifying them of live-fire exercises taking place in the area. New Zealand’s Defense Minister, Judith Collins, stated in an interview with Radio New Zealand on Monday that the drills were announced with only a few hours’ notice rather than the expected 12 to 24 hours. The New Zealand government has since sought assurances from the Chinese embassy regarding future military activities of this nature.
A spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry defended the country’s actions, asserting that the exercises complied with international law and did not pose a threat to aviation safety. Nevertheless, New Zealand has continued to request greater transparency in the notification process for such operations.
Peters, who also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, is currently undertaking an extensive 11-day diplomatic tour. His journey commenced with visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Following his engagements in Beijing, he is scheduled to travel to Mongolia and South Korea before returning to New Zealand on Monday.
Prior to embarking on this diplomatic mission, Peters characterized China as one of New Zealand’s most significant yet complex international partners. His remarks underscored the multifaceted nature of the bilateral relationship, which encompasses both economic collaboration and strategic considerations.
Tensions between New Zealand and China had surfaced earlier in the month due to a diplomatic dispute involving the Cook Islands. The New Zealand government expressed dissatisfaction when the Cook Islands initially refused to disclose the contents of a draft agreement with China aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation.
The Cook Islands, a small Pacific island nation, maintains a unique constitutional association with New Zealand, which extends to military and foreign affairs assistance. In return, the Cook Islands is expected to consult New Zealand on matters that could impact their shared interests. The controversy arose when details of the agreement, which includes increased Chinese funding for infrastructure projects and educational scholarships, were only made public after it had been formally signed in Beijing.
This recent development has further complicated New Zealand’s diplomatic engagements with China, reflecting the broader geopolitical challenges faced by Pacific nations navigating relationships with major global powers. The New Zealand government remains focused on maintaining its strategic interests while fostering constructive international partnerships.
