WELLINGTON - New Zealand shared with China its concerns about rising tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait during a meeting on March 18 between the foreign ministers of both countries.

The meeting between Mr Wang Yi and Mr Winston Peters was the first in-person meeting since New Zealand elected a conservative government in October 2023. They previously spoke by phone.

The ministers discussed trade, business and security in the Pacific as well as “areas of difference”, including human rights and the situation in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, according to a statement issued by Mr Peters after the meeting.

“We also highlighted New Zealand and China’s shared interest in a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and raised concerns over increased tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait,” the statement added.

China, which regards self-governing Taiwan as its territory to be reunified, has in recent years regularly carried out military drills around the island as it seeks to assert its sovereignty claims and pressure Taipei.

Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

China also lays claims to many areas of the South China Sea, which are disputed by the Philippines and other countries.

Beijing is also boosting its strategic interests in the Pacific Island countries – efforts that the United States and Australia are trying to counter.

China is New Zealand’s top trading partner. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported that two-way goods and services trade totalled NZ$38.67 billion (S$31.5 billion) in the year ended September 2023.

New Zealand has long been seen as a moderate, or even absent, voice on China in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the US, but in recent years, the country has spoken up about what it considers to be concerning actions by Beijing.

Before the meeting, Mr Wang said China was willing to strengthen strategic communication with New Zealand on international and regional issues.

“We will work together to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world,” he said, adding that the relationship between New Zealand and China continues to have a “healthy momentum”.

Mr Wang is also due to meet New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Mr Wang is flying to Australia on March 19 to meet his Australian counterpart Penny Wong, and will hold a roundtable with business leaders in Canberra on March 20. REUTERS