New Zealand’s foreign minister raised concerns with Chinese leaders regarding China’s recent live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea during meetings on Wednesday. The issue was the lack of notice given to New Zealand about the military exercises near its coast. Winston Peters stated that this marked a failure in their special relationship and urged for this to be corrected in the future.

In the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed that both countries should work together as partners of mutual trust and resolve any differences through dialogue. Peters also mentioned the missile launch test conducted by China in September that landed near French Polynesia’s exclusive economic zone, for which most Pacific Island nations received no warning, and New Zealand received little warning.

It was noted that China is considering providing earlier notice for future naval drills. The return of Donald Trump to the White House was also a topic of discussion, with both sides agreeing to wait and see what happens. Peters also expressed concerns about the Cook Islands signing a comprehensive strategic partnership with China without properly consulting with New Zealand. He emphasized the need for China to understand the constitutional arrangement between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

The agreement between the Cook Islands and China has raised concerns in New Zealand due to China’s growing presence in the Pacific region and potential threats to national security. Wang affirmed that China respects the traditional relations between New Zealand and Pacific Island countries. The two diplomats also discussed trade and economic issues, with Wang calling for cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and green economy. In 2024, China received a quarter of all New Zealand’s exports.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/27/new-zealands-top-diplomat-tells-china-sudden-live-fire-drills-represent-failure-in-relationship