New Zealand criticized for offering to ‘negotiate peace’ between Australia and China

New Zealand’s new foreign minister has been called “naive” after offering to negotiate peace between Australia and China.

Nanaia Mahuta, who became the first Maori woman to hold the post when she was appointed by Jacinda Ardern last month, said her government could help bring Canberra and Beijing to the table.

Scott Morrison has not spoken to President Xi Jinping since the G20 summit in Japan in June last year, as the diplomatic row between the countries shows no signs of easing.

Nanaia Mahuta became the first Maori woman to hold the post of Foreign Minister when she was appointed by Jacinda Ardern (pictured together)

Ms Mahuta, 50, said hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next year presented an opportunity for New Zealand to help ease tensions.

‘Do I think there could be an opportunity for New Zealand to create a different environment and have a conversation? Yes, I do, ‘said Ms Mahuta.

“And I think hosting APEC might well be the opportunity … but both sides will have to be willing to come together and compromise in some areas where they currently disagree.”

But liberal MP Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, said it was “naive” to think that tensions could easily be eased.

‘I’m sure this has good intentions, but seriously … ??’ wrote on Twitter before describing the offer as “naive.”

Relations between Australia and China have rapidly deteriorated after Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus that was identified in Wuhan late last year.

Scott Morrison has not spoken to President Xi Jinping (pictured together) since the G20 summit in Japan in June last year, as the diplomatic spat between the countries shows no signs of relief.

The Chinese Embassy in Canberra has released a dossier of 14 complaints, including claims that Australia is “on the side of the US.” And interfering in its affairs in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Among the other complaints was Australia’s decision to ban Chinese telecoms company Huawei from the country’s 5G network and to block foreign investment offers from Chinese companies.

Last month, Beijing blocked Australian exports, including charcoal and seafood, before imposing a 212 percent tariff on Australian wine, effectively banning the product.

Tensions worsened after a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson posted a digitally manipulated image of an Australian soldier holding a bloody knife to the throat of an Afghan boy in reference to a report on alleged war crimes committed by Australian troops.

New Zealand expressed concern to China about the use of the image.

‘I don’t think Twitter diplomacy can be achieved when misinformation is promoted through social media. I think we have to go back to tried and tested diplomacy, which is dialogue and ensuring that the doors are open for people to solve some challenging problems, ”said Ms. Mahuta.

Ms. Mahuta also recently joined her counterparts from Five Eyes intelligence partners – Australia, UK, Canada, and US – in condemning China for disqualifying lawmakers in Hong Kong.

Ms Mahuta, 50, said hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next year presented an opportunity for New Zealand to help ease tensions.

This infuriated China, which reacted by warning the Western alliance that it could be ‘poked in the eye’.

Like Australia, New Zealand has important trade ties with China, but under Prime Minister Ardern’s Labor government, who won a second term in October, has criticized China’s lending to the small Pacific islands, raising concerns about the Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region and has endorsed Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization.

Alexander Gillespie, a law professor at the University of Waikato, said New Zealand was still well positioned to try to negotiate some kind of calming measures.

“There is no guarantee that getting both parties to sit down and talk calmly will work.

“It would be a very, very, long road ahead, but it would be heading in a different direction than where we are currently heading,” he said.

Who is the first Maori woman from New Zealand to be Foreign Minister?

Little known outside of New Zealand, Nanaia Mahuta was a surprise choice as Ardern’s foreign minister in the country’s most diverse cabinet.

His moko kauae, or face tattoo, inscribed on his chin as a symbol of his Maori heritage, has attracted much attention.

“Curiosity is the keyword,” she said when asked how people had reacted to her.

Ms Mahuta said she sees her position as an opportunity to create a different kind of dialogue in the foreign affairs space, and has had conversations with other women in foreign affairs offices in other countries on common topics such as the role of women. in society, gender. equality and environment.

‘I have a perspective that is intergenerational, that is born out of culture, that is firmly grounded in the New Zealand context, that has not been entirely smooth when you think about the way indigenous issues have been addressed here and in our country. history of colonization, ‘she said.

The first indigenous Maori woman to hold the post, Ms Mahuta highlighted the ‘whakapapa’ or New Zealand kinship connections dating back to the Asian region.

“That allows us to navigate our relations with China perhaps a little differently from other countries,” he said.

Source: Reuters