New Zealand’s Ardern says China’s moves in Pacific ‘not new’ but ‘pace of engagement’ increased, will push US to engage more
- Her comments come as China fell short on a bold plan to have 10 Pacific nations endorse a deal from security to fisheries, that has led to regional concerns
- Ardern is in the US to meet President Joe Biden, and said she would be encouraging Washington to grow their relations in the Pacific
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says China’s “pace of engagement” has increased in the Pacific but defended her country’s own efforts, calling the relationship “naturally different”.
Her comments come as China on Monday fell short on a bold plan to have 10 Pacific nations endorse a sweeping new agreement covering everything from security to fisheries, with some in the region expressing deep concerns.
But there have been many small wins for China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as he continues an island-hopping tour of the region, including cooperation agreements with Sāmoa and Kiribati.
Yi’s efforts, coming hot on the heels of the controversial Solomon Islands security pact, have seen criticism directed towards the New Zealand Government over an apparent lack of engagement and “relationship failure” in the region.
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Ardern, speaking from Washington DC, said she rejected those assertions and didn’t think China’s actions were anything “new”.
