New Zealand raises China’s surprise warship drills in high-level talks

This handout photo released by the New Zealand Embassy in China shows New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters (2nd L) attending a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd R) in Beijing on February 26, 2025. Agence France-Presse

BEIJING — New Zealand used high-level talks in Beijing to raise concerns about the surprise deployment of Chinese warships off its western coast, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday.

Dozens of commercial flights were forced to divert last week when the vessels announced live firing drills underneath a busy flight path halfway between Australia and New Zealand.

Both nations have criticized China for springing the drills with little warning — Australian officials said a last-minute alert was broadcast on a channel unchecked by air controllers.

READ: West PH Sea: China naval drills cause dozens of Australia flight diversions

Peters said he raised “the failure to give us adequate notice” while meeting with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday.

“We did place on record our concern, and the expectation that we will have a better warning in the future,” Peters told reporters after the meeting.

“I think it would be true to say that he took our concerns on board.”

READ: PH, New Zealand eye military deal soon amid China concerns

New Zealand also raised the importance of “international rules” underpinning “stability” in the region, Peters added in a statement released Thursday.

“Our region and the world are facing a myriad of challenges, including increased tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.”

Australia and close ally New Zealand have been monitoring the vessels — a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker — since they were detected in international waters off Australia last week.

Officials said 49 commercial flights were forced to divert around the live firing zone on February 21.

Australia said the drills took place in international waters, and has conceded China’s conduct abided by international law.

China has defended its conduct as “safe, standard and professional”.

The warships were 350 nautical miles (648 kilometers) northeast of Australia’s Bass Strait on Tuesday morning, New Zealand’s defense force said.