China has issued a sharp new warning after a New Zealand naval tanker quietly crossed the Taiwan Strait, a move Beijing claims risks “stirring up trouble” in one of the world’s most volatile flashpoints. As HMNZS Aotearoa made its rare transit, China’s PLA shadowed the vessel, triggering a diplomatic ripple far larger than the ship itself. Wellington insists the passage followed international law — but Beijing says the message sent to Taiwan’s forces is dangerous.