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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand’s relationship with China is about maintaining foreign policy independence and being consistent and predictable.
She was questioned about the latest developments after the Five Eyes intelligence association (US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand) said that a new Chinese government resolution that led to the disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong Kong appeared to be “part of a concerted campaign to silence all critical voices.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded by saying that the five countries should “face the reality” that the former British colony has been returned to China.
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New Zealand’s relationship with China was about maintaining independence, Ardern says.
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“It doesn’t matter if they have five or ten eyes, if they dare to harm China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, they should take care that their eyes are pricked and blinded,” he said in a daily briefing.
When asked on Newstalk ZB on Monday about that warning, Ardern said: “It’s obviously not the language we would use.”
Hong Kong was relevant to New Zealand and New Zealanders. This country did business in Hong Kong and could potentially be affected by what was happening in Hong Kong, Ardern said.
“We have a relationship where New Zealand is consistent and predictable. When we raise these issues, we do so in a respectful way, but obviously China will respond as it sees fit. “
Vincent Yu / AP
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy lawmakers recently resigned en masse in protest at China’s handling of Hong Kong.
Speaking on the subject in BreakfastArdern said the relationship with China should be about maintaining foreign policy independence, and New Zealand did.
“It’s also about being consistent, and we are.” New Zealand had been consistent and predictable in its statements on Hong Kong. “It will not be a surprise to China at all.”
“But I think it’s also about showing that we have a mature relationship,” Ardern said.
“We have an important business relationship with China, but at the same time we have to have the capacity if we see issues that we perceive as directly affecting New Zealand … it’s just about making sure we can always speak to those issues and of course, maintain that important relationship. “
