New Zealand has a surprisingly good relationship with China. Wellington, however, needs to be careful if it does not want to offend its traditional allies.
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda speaks at a conference on Sino-New Zealand business relations. Ardern’s government has to strike a delicate balance with China.
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For months now, politicians in New Zealand have been closely monitoring the dispute between their large neighbors Australia and China, which is also a close economic partner for the New Zealanders. The spiral of escalation between Canberra and Beijing is constantly turning: Australia demanded an investigation into the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in May – Beijing responded with constant new trade sanctions. Australia, on the other hand, tightened the rules for foreign investments – and is thus also targeting Chinese investors. China then warned its students against studying in Australia. That hits the Australian universities, which are financially dependent on students from China.
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