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A threat to jab and blind a trading partner doesn’t sound like a sign of a “mature relationship” between China and New Zealand, but the recent rise in diplomatic temperature is not yet a sign of deterioration, foreign policy experts say.
The latest warning shots fired from Beijing to Wellington over a Five Eyes statement on Hong Kong have come in two rounds. First, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the Five Eyes nations, which include New Zealand, must “take care that their eyes are poked and blinded.”
The Chinese embassy in Wellington issued a statement on Monday saying that the Five Eyes countries should “refrain from going the wrong way and conspiring with each other in wrongdoing.
Associate Professor Jason Young, director of the Center for Contemporary China Research at the University of Victoria, said recent years have shown that these problems “will arise periodically” in the New Zealand-China relationship.
Richard Tindiller / RNZ
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Tuesday that neither she nor her officials had heard from their Chinese counterparts after New Zealand signed a Five Eyes statement condemning China’s actions in Hong Kong.
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“There is a pattern with some foreign affairs diplomats in China, they call it this whole ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ idea. Some Chinese diplomats, and also foreign affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian, have a very colorful and rather jarring way of talking about differences.
“It has rarely been directed at New Zealand, so when we are part of that group of five countries and it is directed at us, it’s quite jarring.
Young said that while the remarks were newsworthy, at the same time the economic relationship between the two countries was “thickening,” helping to stabilize diplomatic ties.
“Depending on the severity of these issues and how they are handled, there is the potential for relationship consequences … The severity will depend on whether or not it will have an impact on the overall relationship, which at this point still appears to be quite limited “.
Young said the government routinely described its relationship with China as “mature.” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that Lijian’s statement was proof of a “mature relationship.”
Young agreed: “My own opinion is that, I think, we should avoid jumping into the shadows … Actually, I don’t think it’s very helpful to always, in a way, panic or say, ‘This will have a negative impact. in the relationship’.”
AP
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to the Five Eyes nations after a statement was issued denouncing the disqualification of lawmakers in Hong Kong.
“Instead, we need to be a little more mature about it in the idea that, of course, we disagree, and that we hope we can disagree in a way that doesn’t have a broader impact on what we see as a relationship. more espacious”.
Catherine Churchman, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Victoria, said New Zealand had not yet been the recipient of “wolf warrior” diplomacy and why it had not been a major issue.
“That talk about stinging people in the eyes and so forth, that’s just what they have to do as an official response to things … The proof is going to be in the pudding or the nibbling.”
She compared the situation in New Zealand to that in Australia, where last week a Chinese government official delivered Sydney morning herald Reporters a document detailing “14 grievances” that Beijing had with the Australian government.
Among the complaints were government funding of the “anti-China investigation”, “senseless interference” in China’s actions in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, and the passage of foreign interference laws to attack China without evidence of irregularities.
Churchman said that certain complaints, such as making public statements about Hong Kong and Xinjiang, described as “interference” by Beijing, also apply to New Zealand.
However, unlike Australia, New Zealand had not passed foreign interference laws or laws aimed at investing the China Belt and Road within the country.
“I can’t read their minds, but it seems to be quite significant, if you go through that list and look at what they have done and what we have not done,” Churchman said.
Churchman said that it would probably not be possible for New Zealand to chart a course through strident diplomacy from China and what are likely to be greater demands from the United States.
“Of course, things could calm down considerably and make things easier for us.”
