China Cautions Taiwan ‘Trouble’ After NZ Ship Sails Strait

China on Thursday warned countries not to stir up any trouble around Taiwan after reports that a New Zealand naval vessel transited the strait between the island and the mainland earlier this month.

“We firmly oppose any country stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Strait or sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatists forces,” Chinese Ministry of Defence spokesman Jiang Bin said Thursday at a regular press conference. The Chinese military monitored the transit and effectively responded to the situation, he said.