China lodges protest over New Zealand air force harassment

China has responded in a resolute manner and lodged serious protests with New Zealand after an air force plane repeatedly flew close to China's air space, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

According to Guo Jiakun, a New Zealand air force P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft recently conducted close reconnaissance and harassment over the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.

Such acts undermined China's security interest, heightened risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and disrupted the order of civil aviation, Guo said.

He urged Wellington to earnestly abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, respect China's sovereignty and security concerns and uphold the safety and order of civil aviation.