New Zealand sent two naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait on September 18, marking the country’s third such transit in roughly twelve months. China’s People’s Liberation Army tracked and monitored the frigate HMNZS Te Mana and the replenishment oiler HMNZS Aotearoa throughout their north-to-south passage, claiming full control of the situation. The Aotearoa had previously transited the strait three times since approximately September 2025, with a November 5, 2025 crossing notably involving seven Chinese PLA Navy warships. New Zealand’s government has consistently framed these transits as routine exercises in international maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Source: Read the original article
