The Indo-Pacific region is facing increased uncertainty and decreased security due to China’s growing economic influence and assertive foreign policy, according to New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins. Speaking at the China Business Summit in Auckland, Hipkins expressed concern about the escalating tensions in areas like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. He emphasized the need for careful management and de-escalation of these tensions in the wider interests of the region. Hipkins also called on China to play its part in ensuring stability and predictability.
As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, alongside the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, New Zealand has been vocal about its concerns regarding China’s human rights record and its increasing influence through cooperation agreements and infrastructure development loans in the Pacific. The signing of a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands in April 2022, which allowed for the dispatch of Chinese security forces to the island nation, raised alarms not only in New Zealand but also in the US, Australia, and several Pacific island countries.
Despite the strategic tensions and competition in the Indo-Pacific region, Hipkins assured that New Zealand will continue to engage in dialogue with China, cooperate in areas of common interest, and work with other international partners to protect and promote its national interests and values. He acknowledged the complexity of the global environment and the careful management required in maintaining the relationship with China.
