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Collective effort needed to rebuff China’s advances in Pacific, says New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern
- Ardern said China’s presence in the area is not new, but Beijing’s recent propositions showed island nations should stick together to advance regional interests
- China last month reportedly sought a regional deal with at least 10 Pacific island nations on matters including policing, biometrics, and scholarships
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Pacific nations can better rebuff China’s advances if working collectively, Jacinda Ardern says.
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New Zealand’s Prime Minister is visiting Australia and told Channel Nine she viewed the Pacific nations as family.
She said China’s presence in the region was not new, but the giant country’s recent propositions showed island nations should stick together to advance regional interests.
“There is power in the collective. And in fact, we’ve in recent times asked for big conversations, like for instance, security arrangements, deal with us as a region … and as a Pacific voice,” Ardern told the Today show.
She also said she viewed New Zealand as a Pacific nation.
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“The relationship for us is not a bilateral relationship. It’s a family relationship.”
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