At the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Regular Press Conference on April 17, 2026, a reporter asked: We’ve learned that recently a military plane of the New Zealand air force repeatedly flew near China’s airspace. Quite a few civil aviation flights were disrupted. What’s China’s comment?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Guo Jiakun: A P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the New Zealand air force recently conducted repeated close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The action undermined China’s security interests, increased risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and gravely disrupted the order of civil aviation in relevant airspace. China has responded in a resolute manner and lodged serious protests with New Zealand.
China urges New Zealand to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, respect China’s sovereignty and security concerns and maintain the safety and order of civil aviation.
At the Regular Press Briefing of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on April 17, 2026, a reporter asked: a military plane of the New Zealand air force recently conducted persistent close-in reconnaissance and harassment near China’s airspace, disrupting the order of civil aviation in relevant airspace. What’s China’s comment?
Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang: Recently, a P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the New Zealand air force conducted persistent close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace over 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 malicious acts by New Zealand harmed China's sovereignty and security, gravely disrupted the order of civil aviation in relevant airspace, and may easily trigger maritime and aerial incidents. We urge the New Zealand side to impose stricter discipline and supervision over its frontline forces, immediately stop irresponsible acts that harass and jeopardize civil aviation safety, and prevent risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation.