Wellington: New Zealand will not avoid criticizing Chinese human rights records to protect profitable trade relations with Beijing, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in an interview.
The Ardern government was accused of being easily in Chinese humanitarian records that were questionable, pushing several commentators to label Wellington “Weak Link” in the US LED USA LED Security Alliance.
But the New Zealand leader rejected the advice that economic relations with the largest trading partners in his country prescribed their ability to voice wider concerns.
“It is very important for us that we maintain integrity in the way we have our diplomatic relations,” he said in an interview with AFP, New Zealand Herald, NBC News and covering the current climate.
Ardern noted “high tension” between China and Australia, which has been beaten by sanctions by Beijing for its attitude which changes on issues such as Uyghur’s treatment and democratic erosion in Hong Kong.
New Zealand has also raised concerns about the same problem, but it has been more controlled in his statement and has not faced economic retaliation.
The Ardern government refused to support the parliamentary movement in being able to label the treatment of Uyghurs as a genocide, by saying legal cases to use the term has not yet been made and vice versa stated “great worries”.
New Zealand also said “uncomfortable” using a five-eye group – consisting of the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand – to criticize China about rights issues.
But Ardern insisted on the diplomatic bonds of New Zealand with China not determined by trade.
“We have maturity in our relationship to improve the problems we are worried, both human rights issues, both labor problems, both environmental problems,” he said.
“And it is very important for us that we can continue to do it and do that regardless of the trade ties.” Asked whether he would classify China as an ally or enemy, he replied: “I don’t think we will determine our relationship with any country in terms that are so clear.” Ardern said earlier this year that the difference in New Zealand with China on human rights became “more difficult to reconcile”, but the government will continue to show areas of concern for Beijing.