The New Zealand Defense Force says two of its naval ships transited the
Taiwan Strait late last week.

Defense officials in Wellington says the September 18 transits, by the naval
frigate "Te Mana" and the replenishment oiler "​Aotearoa," were part of a
three-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

According to a spokesperson, the "New Zealand Defense Force deployments to
the region demonstrate" a "continued interest and commitment to the region."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is calling it "a routine activity" and says
he's not expecting any backlash ​from China.

Luxon says it was conducted in a safe and professional way. It was conducted
under international law and it was in international waters.

Here in Taiwan the Ministry of National Defense hasn't directly commented on
the transit by the New Zealand vessels.

However, it has released a statement saying as the strait is an international
waterway, all countries enjoy ​freedom of navigation and it "will ​not
proactively disclose the activities of friendly allied nations' aircraft and
vessels."