Robert Patman: Otago University International Relations Professor on the NZ Navy ship being shadowed by Chinese warships

A New Zealand navy ship's been shadowed by seven Chinese warships in East Asian waters.  

HMNZS Aotearoa was carrying out surveillance and deterrence activities last month to enforce the UN's sanctions against North Korea.   

The Defence Force has confirmed the warships kept a safe distance throughout. 

Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Heather du Plessis-Allan it indicates China firmly believes in its sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait. 

He says a growing consciousness of military might means China's less tolerant of infringements on what it sees as its sovereign claim. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So New Zealand Defense Force has confirmed one of its
navy ships in East Asia was recently shadowed by seven
Chinese warships. It was last month when the hm In
zed s alti at Or was conducting surveillance operations. This
was related to North Korea's nuclear program. Robert Patman is
an international relations expert and with US Morning Robert, Good morning, Hell.
How serious do you think this is?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
I wouldn't say it's very serious, but I think the
fact that the h Z s aut was shadowed by
seven New Zealand warships at different times indicates that the
Chinese are not relenting in their claim that the Taiwan
Strait is not an international warway but waterway. Actually they

(00:47):
claimed sovereignty over it. So there's no sign there backing down.
And I don't think that's really surprising given the current
international situation.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
No, not at all. Is it possible that actually US
being there at all as a provocation to them? I mean,
we feel pretty aggrieved when they come all the way
down here.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, you know, I suppose they could interpret it this way,
but I think what we have to take into account
is that China has as its economic and military capabilities
grown over the years. It's the second superpower of the
United States. What used to be acceptable to China is
no longer acceptable. He's had a long standing claim over Taiwan,

(01:31):
and I think this sort of growing consciousness of military
might means that China is less tolerant, less accepting of
what it sees as infringements on its sovereign claim. But
to be fair, you know, most countries in the world
do see the Taiwan Straight as an international waterway, and

(01:55):
we also as a country have very good relations with Taiwan.
We don't have diplomatic relations with them, but we certainly
have a free trade agreement with Taiwan and it host
people to people relations. So I think news I mean,
let's be quite clear, why was New Zealand there going
through the Taiwan Straight Because it was on a mission

(02:18):
to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea, so it wasn't
aimed at China. The ship sailed from the South China
Sea to the North Asian region via the Taiwan Strait,
and we now learned that actually occurred over a month ago.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
Robert, thanks very much running us through. Appreciate it as
Robert Patman International relations experience.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
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