China has lodged a formal complaint against the New Zealand Air Force, alleging that a P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft repeatedly conducted reconnaissance and harassment near its airspace.
- China’s Claim: New Zealand P-8A aircraft disrupted civil aviation and undermined security in the Yellow and East China Seas.
- NZ’s Position: Operations are conducted to monitor North Korean sanctions evasions under UN Security Council resolutions.
- Current Status: New Zealand denies any disruption to civil aviation, while China urges stricter discipline of NZ forces.
China Alleges Airspace Harassment
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the New Zealand Air Force’s activities in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea increased the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation.
According to Guo, these actions “gravely disrupted the order of civil aviation” and undermined China’s security interests, leading China to lodge serious protests with New Zealand.
Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence, described the activities as “malicious acts” that could trigger maritime and aerial incidents. He urged New Zealand to impose stricter supervision over its frontline forces to stop acts that jeopardize aviation safety.
New Zealand Defence Force Response
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) denied the allegations of harassment, clarifying that the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft is tasked with monitoring North Korean sanctions evasions in North Asia.
The NZDF stated that these activities, which have been ongoing since 2018 under UN Security Council resolutions, are not directed at China but are focused on the Yellow Sea and East China Sea where sanctions evasions occur.
The Defence Force maintained that its crew operated professionally and in accordance with international law and civil aviation procedures. Following a review of flight routes and available information, the NZDF stated it has no data indicating that civil aviation was disrupted.
Diplomatic Engagement
The New Zealand Defence Force emphasized its open and transparent approach to these operations, noting that dialogue has taken place between New Zealand and Chinese officials.
Officials have reportedly made it clear to China that the deployment is a longstanding mission to enforce UN-mandated sanctions on North Korea. The NZDF declined to comment further on the specifics of those discussions or operational details.
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