According to a Thursday statement by New Zealand's Defence Minister Judith Collins, naval vessels from New Zealand sailed across the Taiwan Strait.

Collins described the two ships' activity as routine and in accordance with international law. They sailed from 2pm on Wednesday local time through the disputed strait.

She said that the New Zealand Defence Force conducted all its activities in accordance to international law and best practices.

She added that this was the first New Zealand navy ship to pass through the Strait since 2017.

The Japanese newspaper published earlier Thursday that the two vessels had been joined by

Japanese Self Defense Force destroyer Sazanami

. Collins' statement was limited to New Zealand and Australia.

The Australian Department of Defence and the Defence Minister’s Office did not comment immediately. Reporting by Lewis Jackson, Editing by Alasair Pal

(source: Reuters)