New Zealand internal report warns of Chinese military forays in Pacific

New Zealand officials have issued a stark warning about China's growing military assertiveness in the Pacific, anticipating that ballistic missile tests and naval forays will become a "persistent" feature of the region.

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New Zealand officials are in close contact with Australian counterparts and maintaining situational awareness of these vessels.

An internal document from New Zealand's Defence Force and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained by AFP, details concerns over Beijing's expanding security presence. The report was compiled while monitoring a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) flotilla in the Philippine Sea. "More broadly, we anticipate that Chinese actions, such as the PLAN task group that transited the Tasman Sea in February and China’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific in September 2024, will be a persistent feature of our strategic environment," the document states.

The 15-page report, shared with New Zealand's Prime Minister and relevant ministers, underscores the rapid expansion of China's navy. This growth, fueled by billions of dollars in defense investment, has unnerved governments despite Beijing's claims of peaceful intentions. The United States has long been the dominant military power in the Pacific, and China's increasing reach is altering this dynamic.

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More broadly, we anticipate that Chinese actions, such as the PLAN task group that transited the Tasman Sea in February and China’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific in September 2024, will be a persistent feature of our strategic environment.

New Zealand's concerns were amplified by the February 2025 deployment of three Chinese warships to the Tasman Sea. While the report acknowledged this deployment was conducted in accordance with international law, it noted that China's notification of live fire exercises did not align with international best practices, causing commercial airlines to reroute. Beijing's December deployment to the Philippine Sea was described as consistent with China's incremental expansion of its maritime security presence over the past decade.

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This included the manner in which the task group notified its intentions to conduct live fire exercises, which we consider did not align with international best practice and caused several commercial airlines to change route.

Details about specific naval vessels deployed by China to the South Pacific were redacted, citing security concerns. New Zealand's Defence Force also declined to release information on how the country would respond, for similar reasons. The report also mentioned China's deployment of various naval vessels, including hospital ships and space event support ships designed to track rocket launches and missile activity, to the region.

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Beijing has deployed a broad range of naval vessels to the region, including but not limited to hospital ships, large amphibious vessels in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and outer space event support ships.