New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters is to touch down in Beijing today for a three-day visit after relations between the two nations have been strained by Chinese navy vessels conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea.
New Zealand and Australian officials said that China had conducted live-fire exercises in international waters between the two nations, giving little notice and forcing commercial airlines to divert flights.
The three ships yesterday were about 280 nautical miles (519 km) east of Tasmania, outside of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, the New Zealand Defence Force said.
Photo: Reuters
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday said that the limited notice that China had given that it would undertake live-fire exercises would be raised in Beijing.
“There is nothing illegal here in terms of they are compliant with international law,” Luxon said.
“The issue for us is ... we’d appreciate a little bit more advance notice particularly on what is a busy air route,” he said.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Peters’ visit to China is part of a trip that includes stops in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Mongolia and South Korea. In Beijing, he is to hold talks with senior Chinese leaders, including Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅).
Peters last week in a statement said that he would discuss with Chinese officials the bilateral relationship, as well as Pacific, regional and global issues that are of interest to both nations.
“China is one of New Zealand’s most significant and complex relationships, encompassing important trade, people-to-people and cultural connections. We intend to maintain regular high-level political dialogue with China,” Peters said.
Peters has also voiced concerns that the Cook Islands, an independent nation in free association with New Zealand, had signed a comprehensive strategic partnership and other agreements with China without satisfactorily consulting with New Zealand.
Jason Young, director of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University in Wellington, said while questions around challenging issues such as the Cook Islands deal and the Chinese navy’s activities in the Tasman Sea would be asked, there would also be discussion around further high-level visits and trade.
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