Chinese Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang
China’s defense ministry urges New Zealand to restrain frontline forces, stop disruptive acts after NZ aircraft’s harassment in Yellow Sea and East China Sea By Global Times Published: Apr 17, 2026 05:11 PM
When asked to comment on the repeated recent activities of a New Zealand air force military aircraft near China's peripheral airspace, which have disrupted numerous civil aviation flights, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Friday that a P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the New Zealand air force conducted continuous close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace and waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Such actions undermine China's security interests, heighten the risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and severely disrupt civil aviation operations in relevant airspace.
China has taken firm and forceful response and lodged stern representations with the New Zealand side. China urges New Zealand to strictly abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, respect China's sovereignty and security concerns, and safeguard the safety and order of civil aviation, Guo said.
Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, also responded to the matter on Friday at a press conference. Zhang said that recently, a P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the New Zealand air force has conducted frequent close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace and waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea in disregard of China's warnings. The Chinese military has taken professional and forceful measures to respond to and deal with the situation, and lodged stern representations with the New Zealand side.
Such acts by New Zealand undermine China's sovereignty and security, severely disrupt flight order in relevant airspace, and may easily trigger maritime and aerial incidents, Zhang said. "We urge the New Zealand side to exercise strict restraint on its frontline forces, immediately stop disruptive and irresponsible acts that jeopardize civil aviation safety, and prevent risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation," the spokesperson said.
Global Times
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@swirlie No RNZAF aircraft would ever violate prescribed approach or departure corrodors.
This game has been played for many decades. Apparently it'scalled Elint (electronic intelligence) Europeans play it, the Americans play it, the Russians play it, the Chinese play it - this is just China trying to disrupt a Free World exercise because that's what autocracies such as China and America do.
Again - why is China's military driving this pantomime?
NZDF statement in response to China’s claims regarding P-8A aircraft flight 18 April, 2026
A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has been undertaking activities that monitor North Korean sanctions evasions at sea in North Asia under UN Security Council resolutions.
These activities are not directed at China but rather aim to monitor evasions of United Nations sanctions on North Korea, which do occur in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) crew operated professionally and in accordance with international law and civil aviation procedures for the region. NZDF has reviewed the routes flown and all available information. We have no data which indicates they disrupted civil aviation.
New Zealand takes an open and transparent approach to these operations. As part of this, there has been dialogue between New Zealand and Chinese officials, and we have made it clear that this is a longstanding deployment enforcing UN-mandated sanctions on North Korea.
