Rejecting China's Harassment Accusations, New Zealand: Military Aircraft Executing UN Mission According to International Law
New Zealand dismissed China's claims that its air force was conducting harassing reconnaissance in the East China and Yellow Seas, clarifying that the P-8A aircraft was executing UN-mandated surveillance of North Korean sanctions evasion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 16:08
- 🔍 Collected: April 18, 2026 at 16:31 (22 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 21:30 (4h 58m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Wellington, 18th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) China criticized the New Zealand Air Force yesterday for "reconnaissance harassment" and "harming China's security interests" in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. New Zealand defended its military patrol aircraft's operations near China today.
According to a Reuters report, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated yesterday that a New Zealand Air Force P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft "continuously approached the airspace over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea for reconnaissance and harassment."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun pointed out: "The relevant actions damage China's security interests, increase the risk of misunderstanding and misjudgment, and cause serious interference to the civilian flight order in the relevant airspace."
In response to the above accusations, the New Zealand Defence Force stated that the Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft was "conducting monitoring activities of North Korea's sanction evasion in the North Asian waters in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions."
The statement pointed out: "The New Zealand Defence Force crew acts professionally and follows international law and civilian aviation procedures in the region. We have made it clear that this is a long-term deployment aimed at enforcing UN-mandated sanctions against North Korea."
Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea near New Zealand in February last year, leading to tension between the two countries. The leaders of both countries met in June last year to discuss how to improve bilateral relations through trade. (Compiled by: He Hung-ju) 1150418
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(Central News Agency, Wellington, 18th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) China criticized the New Zealand Air Force yesterday for "reconnaissance harassment" and "harming China's security interests" in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. New Zealand defended its military patrol aircraft's operations near China today.
According to a Reuters report, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated yesterday that a New Zealand Air Force P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft "continuously approached the airspace over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea for reconnaissance and harassment."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun pointed out: "The relevant actions damage China's security interests, increase the risk of misunderstanding and misjudgment, and cause serious interference to the civilian flight order in the relevant airspace."
In response to the above accusations, the New Zealand Defence Force stated that the Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft was "conducting monitoring activities of North Korea's sanction evasion in the North Asian waters in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions."
The statement pointed out: "The New Zealand Defence Force crew acts professionally and follows international law and civilian aviation procedures in the region. We have made it clear that this is a long-term deployment aimed at enforcing UN-mandated sanctions against North Korea."
Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea near New Zealand in February last year, leading to tension between the two countries. The leaders of both countries met in June last year to discuss how to improve bilateral relations through trade. (Compiled by: He Hung-ju) 1150418
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First Hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.