New Zealand PM: China makes Pacific more unpredictable
17.07.2023
New Zealand Prime Minister Hipkins, who just finished his visit to China last month, talked about relations with China again on Monday. What did he say? Why has the relationship with China become a major challenge for New Zealand?
(Deutsche Welle Chinese Network) New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins (Chris Hipkins) said on Monday (July 17) that as China becomes more assertive and competition in the Pacific region becomes more intense, the security of the region cannot be guaranteed. Also getting lower and lower. He believes New Zealand needs to work with like-minded partners, but at the same time remain engaged with Beijing.
Speaking at the “China Business Summit” in Auckland on Monday, Hipkins said China’s rise and the way it seeks to exert (international) influence are the main drivers of growing strategic competition, Reuters reported. reason. As such, the relationship needs to be carefully managed, but China remains an important trading partner for New Zealand.
“Our region is becoming more contentious, less predictable and less secure,” Hipkins said. “This presents a challenge for a small country like New Zealand because our prosperity and security, depend on the stability and predictability of international rules.”
Bloomberg pointed out that New Zealand is concerned about human rights, democracy and military issues in the region. Hipkins said New Zealand was concerned about deteriorating strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region and rising regional tensions, especially in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. He also called on China to play a role in cooling down the regional situation.
New Zealand has historically taken a more conciliatory approach to China than Australia, or Five Eyes security partners such as Canada, the US and the UK.
Hipkins’ speech at the event came less than a month after he led a trade mission to China. At that time, he was in China and faced some criticism in New Zealand because of his human rights and other issues.Not as outspoken as expected。
New Zealand Foreign Minister Mahuta visited China in March this year and met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. At that time, some Australian media claimed that she was reprimanded by a long speech, but she did not show weakness, but refuted Qin Gang’s “wolf warrior” remarks.
New Zealand’s relationship with China
The New Zealand Herald reported that Hipkins also said that New Zealand was firmly and consistently committed to pursuing the “one China policy”. And he felt from his recent trip to China,Good relations between the two countries。
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, and exports of goods and services to China account for nearly 30% of New Zealand’s total exports. According to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the value of bilateral trade in goods and services reached NZ$38.5 billion (approximately US$24.5 billion) in the year ending June 30, 2022, of which New Zealand’s exports to China Valued at NZ$20.9 billion (approximately US$13.3 billion).
Regarding the future relationship between New Zealand and China, Hipkins also said that the future bilateral relations will continue to follow three principles: contact and cooperation in areas of common concern; the New Zealand government will take actions to maintain, protect and promote New Zealand New Zealand interests; and working with partners.
According to Reuters, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said in a speech at the same event that the relationship with New Zealand is healthy, stable and flourishing. “It is not surprising that there are differences between our two countries, given the differences in their respective circumstances. But it is not impossible for countries with different social systems and levels of development to coexist peacefully,” he said.
Hipkins attended the leaders’ meeting of NATO and Asia-Pacific partners (AP4) on July 12, sharing the stage with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Australian Prime Minister Albanese and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yue.
(Reuters, Bloomberg, New Zealand Herald)
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2023-07-17 01:42:12
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