NZDF statement in response to China’s claims regarding P-8A aircraft flight
A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has been undertaking activities that monitor North Korean sanctions evasions at sea in North Asia under UN Security Council resolutions.
18 April, 2026
New Zealand has contributed to UN sanctions monitoring since 2018.
These activities are not directed at China but rather aim to monitor evasions of United Nations sanctions on North Korea, which do occur in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) crew operated professionally and in accordance with international law and civil aviation procedures for the region. NZDF has reviewed the routes flown and all available information. We have no data which indicates they disrupted civil aviation.
New Zealand takes an open and transparent approach to these operations. As part of this, there has been dialogue between New Zealand and Chinese officials, and we have made it clear that this is a longstanding deployment enforcing UN-mandated sanctions on North Korea.
Read more about the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea operation and the
New Zealand’s Airborne Surveillance and Response Force (ASRF) is provided by No. 5 Squadron. After the retirement of the Air Force's Lockheed P-3K2 Orion aircraft in early 2023, No. 5 Squadron is now operating four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft.