After conversations with her Chinese counterpart at the conclusion of a trip to Beijing, New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Saturday that she had voiced her concerns regarding the South China Sea and the tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
In a statement, Mahuta added that during her discussion with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Qin Gang, she “noted New Zealand’s profound concerns regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the loss of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.”
According to the foreign minister’s statement, Nanaia Mahuta “expressed worry over developments in the South China Sea and rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was once again condemned by New Zealand, according to Mahuta.
Both China, a significant supporter of Russia, and NATO have been criticised for weakening international stability.
Mahuta, the first New Zealand minister to visit China since 2019 for a four-day visit, arrived there on Wednesday. While there, she met Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, as well as business and women leaders.
As stated in a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang reportedly told Mahuta that China and New Zealand have consistently respected and trusted one another.
In the intelligence-sharing cooperation known as the Five Eyes, which also includes the United States, Australia, Britain, and Canada, New Zealand has long been regarded as the voice of moderation on China.
However, with the signing of a security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, New Zealand’s stance on security and China’s expanding involvement in the South Pacific has become more aggressive.
In light of China’s military development in the South China Sea, New Zealand has repeatedly expressed alarm about the potential militarization of the Pacific.
China considers democratically run Taiwan to be its own territory, has never renounced the use of force to seize control of the island, and also asserts sovereignty over a sizable portion of the South China Sea.
Mahuta stated that after a break of several years, the nations were eager to resume face-to-face communication on a variety of problems.
