ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
In a strategic move that has regional powers taking notice, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has released pictures of the nation’s latest naval acquisition.
The New Zealand Government confirmed the submarine’s existence this morning, ushering in a new paradigm for the Robin of the South Pacific.
For the first time, our cousins across the ditch have added a submarine to their burgeoning naval fleet.
The vessel, which currently does not have a name according to The Advocate’s sources, joins a 4.8m Quintrex tinny, two second-hand jetboats and Rip Curl stand-up paddleboard in the RNZN’s current fleet.
The Advocate’s defence editor, Peng Dehuai (彭德怀), said the submarine is an impressive bit of sabre-rattling by the Kiwis but ultimately it won’t change the geopolitical nature of the South Pacific or challenged Australian hegemony.
“This is a clear escalation and the latest effort by the West to thumb their nose at China,” explained Dehuai.
“It’s just one submarine, it won’t do much. We don’t know much about it. It’s obviously not nuclear, the Kiwis are up on their high horse over that kind of stuff. I’m confident this won’t change a thing in the scheme of things.”
Sources close to The Advocate have said suggested quietly that the “new submarine” is just the remains of the HMNZS Manawanui, which ran aground and sank not far from where the government unveiled the new craft.
The Advocate reached out to the New Zealand Government for comment but have yet to receive a reply.
More to come.
