Overview
- New Zealand said its replenishment ship transited the Taiwan Strait on November 5 and briefly encountered Taiwan’s frigate ROCS Cheng Kung.
- Taiwan’s defence ministry declined immediate comment, while a senior Taiwan security official described escorting like‑minded partners in the strait as standard practice.
- The New Zealand Defence Force released a rare photo from the mission and later confirmed the vessel observed was the Cheng Kung.
- Wellington reported the Aotearoa was shadowed by seven People’s Liberation Army Navy ships at a safe, professional distance during operations in the East China and Yellow seas, and China has previously said it monitored the passage.
- Officials said the mission included a P-8A Poseidon and resulted in patrols over 158,000 square miles, two interrupted suspected ship‑to‑ship transfers, seven vessels of interest identified and 79 deterrence messages broadcast.