The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) plane carrying New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Japan has suffered a malfunction, forcing him to use a commercial flight instead.
New Zealand media reported that the Boeing 757 carrying Prime Minister Luxon experienced technical problems on June 16, while stopping to refuel in Papua New Guinea, leaving the business delegation and accompanying journalists stranded in Port Moresby, while Luxon boarded a commercial flight to Japan. According to the announcement of the Prime Minister's Office, Luxon will spend 4 days in Japan, where he is expected to meet his host counterpart Fumio Kishida and promote economic cooperation between New Zealand and Japan.
The NZDF currently has two Boeing 757s in service that have been in service for the past 30 years. Speaking on Newstalk ZB radio on June 17, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins acknowledged the above problems and said that the ministry is considering whether Prime Minister Luxon and his entourage will use commercial flights instead of NZDF aircraft.
In reality, the NZDF is struggling to cope with ageing equipment and maintaining personnel. The New Zealand government says it wants to invest more in defence, but it needs to be prudent given the country’s economic headwinds.
LAM DIEN
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/may-bay-cua-thu-tuong-new-zealand-gap-su-co-tren-duong-den-nhat-ban-post744944.html
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