Source: Radio New Zealand
The HMNZS Aotearoa. (File photo) Supplied / NZDF
New Zealand’s biggest navy ship HMNZS Aotearoa has made a trip through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
The Strait is part of the South China Sea, over which several countries, including China and the Philippines, have contested territorial claims.
Reuters reported Chinese forces tracked and followed the ship.
Defence Minister Judith Collins said the supply vessel had been on deployment since September after having maintenance done in Singapore.
It sailed through the Strait on 5 November on its way to the North Asian region to take part in UN monitoring of sanctions against North Korea.
Collins said all actions during the transit had been safe, professional and consistent with international law.
That included exercising the right to freedom of navigation, as guaranteed under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
“The NZDF conducts all activities in accordance with international law and best practice. By doing this, we are demonstrating our commitment to the international rules-based system in our near region – the Indo-Pacific”.
The Aotearoa also sailed through the Strait last year in September. The minister said at the time it was with an Australian ship as part of routine activity.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
