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Opinion | To meet the China challenge in Pacific, New Zealand needs to put its money where its mouth is
- While New Zealand and neighbouring Australia are responsible for around 55 per cent of all of the aid flowing into the region, there are shortcomings
- More must be done to promote democracy in the Pacific, while both need to expand their work on the vast infrastructure and development needs of the region
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This week’s White House meeting between New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and US President Joe Biden reflected a world undergoing rapid change. But of all the shared challenges discussed, there was one that kept appearing in the leaders’ joint statement – China in the Pacific.
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Tucked within the statement, with all its promises of increased cooperation and partnership, was this not-so-subtle declaration: “In particular, the United States and New Zealand share a concern that the establishment of a persistent military presence in the Pacific by a state that does not share our values or security interests would fundamentally alter the strategic balance of the region and pose national-security concerns to both our countries.”
Unsurprisingly, this upset Chinese officials, with a foreign ministry spokesperson accusing Ardern and Biden of trying to “deliberately hype up” the issue.
But hopefully the statement will also prompt New Zealand to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to increasing assistance in the Pacific region. Expressing “concern” about China’s influence means little otherwise.
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China’s proposed security deal with Pacific islands falls short as Wang Yi tours region
China’s proposed security deal with Pacific islands falls short as Wang Yi tours region
While New Zealand and Australia are responsible for around 55 per cent of all of the aid flowing into the region, that contribution needs to be seen in perspective.
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