Jacinda Ardern says it’s a fact the free-flowing movement of people globally will help stimulate economies post-Covid, but it’s not for her to tell China’s President how to deal with his closed borders. Political editor Jo Moir reports from APEC in Thailand.
Analysis: The Prime Minister heads into her first in-person bilateral meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in three years with both differences and common ground on the agenda, but some issues she simply won’t raise at all.
There’s no question the tensions in the Pacific – on the back of China increasingly flexing its muscles in the region – are always front and centre when New Zealand’s leadership meets with any Chinese representative.
For Ardern it will be no different and she will inevitably press Xi on the concerns she has around any potential militarisation of the region and the need for general security and stability, which both New Zealand and Australia have been calling for.
While leaders of Pacific Islands have their own voice and can choose how they work with China, the likes of the security deal struck between China and the Solomon Islands earlier this year casts a shadow on the ongoing stability in the region.
In the same vein, the human rights abuses in the Xinjiang province and the continued tensions in the Taiwan Strait are also areas where Xi and Ardern differ.
Given the Prime Minister has only just this week in Cambodia at the East Asia Summit publicly brought attention to them once again, it’s expected she’ll raise them privately too.
“We know it has an economic impact but it’s certainly not for us to give our view on what is ultimately a domestic decision for China, regardless of the ramifications it has.” – Jacinda Ardern
Common ground for the two countries is the economic trading relationship and particularly climate action, where China looks to be stepping up having just this week agreed to resume climate talks with the United States.
But there are also areas where New Zealand disagrees or has taken an alternative view, but Ardern’s reluctant to raise them with Xi.
Primarily that’s the zero-Covid approach China continues to take, which means its borders remain closed and globally other economies are increasingly being impacted by the downturn being experienced by China.
Ardern says the management of Covid-19 and the use of restrictions is strictly a domestic issue and not something she will bring up with Xi, as a result.
However, to make her position clear without having to say it to Xi’s face, Ardern says: “It’s a statement of fact that economic forecasters have made predictions off the back of any decision where we don’t see a free flow of people.
“We know it has an economic impact but it’s certainly not for us to give our view on what is ultimately a domestic decision for China, regardless of the ramifications it has.”
A very blunt view from Ardern from the safety of a press conference, and without the fear of retaliation if she were to raise it in the meeting with Xi directly.
Foreign interference is another area where Ardern is being careful about association with any one country in particular.
Instead, Ardern says it’s about New Zealand not being naïve to generally being the “target of influence and interference or misinformation or disinformation”.
“It’s about making sure we have the mechanisms to protect ourselves and that’s not specific to any country,” she says.
“I think actually it’s simply a matter of fact now that geo-strategic tensions hit us economically." – Jacinda Ardern
The relationship between New Zealand and China is a long-standing one and Ardern has repeatedly expressed how consistent she and leaders before her have been when it comes to working with Xi.
“In recent years the relationship has changed. What’s important for me is that New Zealand is always consistent, and we are.
“I think New Zealand can be proud of that but being consistent in a changing environment – it’s tough out there – but we’re going to stay strong," she says.
The changes are related to the “rapid economic development” China has seen, but also there’s been shifts in the political environment too, which Ardern says has an effect.
Xi is set to secure an unprecedented third term as president after standing orders were changed to effectively allow him to rule for life if he so chooses.
The connection between both countries is a strong economic one, and China has long been present in the Pacific alongside New Zealand.
Ardern says she doesn’t want the relationship to be defined by the differences but there has to always be an environment to raise them.
“We need to make sure we have an environment where we can do that without seeing retaliatory acts, because in my mind that doesn’t further the relationship.”
Over the course of the week the Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated summit talks, and the leader meeting at APEC on Friday is unlikely to be any different.
While it’s traditionally an economic forum, Ardern says the impact the illegal war is having on supply chains means it will be raised and discussed at APEC.
“I think actually it’s simply a matter of fact now that geo-strategic tensions hit us economically.
“What’s happening in Ukraine right now is affecting the global economy, these issues are linked, and I think it’s a further demonstration of why it matters so much that as leaders we do all we can to reduce those tensions, because it affects people’s everyday lives,” Ardern says.
