New Zealand PM Ardern says differences with China becoming harder to reconcile

The only problem with a China-Friendly policy is that it inevitably turns into a China-Owned policy. Perhaps one day when the CCP is history we can all become friends.

New Zealand trying to hand out an olive branch to the CCP in the hope that actual dialog is possible. Probably getting burnt in the process but worth a shot.

If China is set on its zero game ways it will further alienate itself from the international community and to where one has to wonder? The talk of and murmurs, even predictions of an actual war is disturbing. Especially cause we are dealing with enough thanks to the chaos the pandemic has delivered.

However, talking TO someone and talking AT someone are two massively different conversations. You can run and hide till the crows come home to roost , but trying to shut down and control any narrative always has been a loosing strategy. Let’s see if nations can work it out, otherwise...

In times of such uncertainty, calm heads must prevail. In that spirit reaching out is always a welcomed approach.

What would de-escalation look like is the research question?

What would it take to appease China into not flexing too much? Probably a lot.

reduced imports of Australian products are the result of buyers’ own decisions.

They're fooling no one. Western countries need to stand strong and together and make it clear to the plutocrats over there that we are no longer prepared to connive in their gaming the system and taking unreciprocated advantage of our increasingly suicidal looking trade and immigration openness. If our own hopelessly out of touch and compromised elites are not prepared to do what’s necessary, they need to make way for others who are.

New Zealand PM Ardern says differences with China becoming harder to reconcile

Seems to me what she means is she finds her pro CCP policies harder to justify.

China sees kindness as weakness.

Reckless * they do say history repeats!

New Zealand is clearly no threat to any nation, let alone a superpower. But it still has a voice in the international community and has garnered much respect in the International community in the past decades.

Just disagreeing with China in the public forum can bring penalties and trade bans or tariffs from the CCP.

China expects praise and support or complete silence. The trouble is the West has its own opinions on right and wrong and will voice differences of opinion whenever it see's fit.

NZ is in the process of determining if it can contain its opinions and remain silent to appease China, or stay true to it's western roots and better judgement and speak up on matters of concern. The cost of silence is risk alienating friends and allies, and risk becoming a patsy of China. Doing that will erode its sovereignty and its respect on the world stage by always deferring to China. While speaking up will see a cost in trade with China and perhaps a decrease in living standards until it can replace trade from China to other destinations.

I know which direction I would take.

Boycott China. Done.

Five Eyes may drop NZ to become Four Eyes.

NZ shouldn't miss what's going on right now. We are at war. We are under attack. You can't eat and keep a cake at the same time unless it's a peacetime.

Expat , brutal! But it definitely resonates. Maybe we can count on the ever important concept of ‘face’ to keep things from going totally pear shaped. Nothing more important than face apparently in Chinese culture. The world just needs to become one giant mirror!

China is a threat to global security and all the exports in the world are not worth it. I really like the NZ PM, but she needs to put democracy and human rights over agriculture exports.

Good goal!

US top diplomat: China acting more ‘repressively, aggressively’ - Antony Blinken says US goal not to contain China but uphold the international rules-based order:

In other words, the Biden administration will pretend to be tough but roll over and become China’s poodle.

Ardern said there are things on which China and New Zealand "do not, cannot, and will not agree", but added these differences need not define their relationship.

Madam Prime Minister, there are some universal values and human rights that you either support or you do not. If it was not for your double standards, you would have no standards at all.

Sorry, Hong Kong is a violation of an international treaty not to mention a suppression of human rights so nope it is not an internal matter.

Xinjiang genocide is a crime against humanity so again our little wolf puppy diplomat is wrong it is not an internal affair

Adern is going to have to bite the bullet and stand up for the principles she supposedly espouses or lose all credibility both nationally and internationally.

Either stand up to Pooh Bear and his criminal gang or become a subject people.

Can’t say that what we found in the woods was a big surprise. Confucius say honorable #1 customer always king. Translated into language everyone can understand; “it’s our way, or the highway”.

NZ should probably just be like us in Australia. Talk tough against China, talk about going toe-to-toe with them in a war, the public love it. In the meantime, increase the trade relationship to record levels. This year is right on track to see record trade between China-Australia.

Just talk tough, Ardern, youll be fine!

This seems like an understatement but I guess is a welcome change from the path NZ had on the last few months.

 This year is right on track to see record trade between China-Australia

Nope. As of March 2021 Australian exports to China are down 8% compared to same time last year. Coal and Iron interests tried exporting large quantities of each commodity to China at the end of 2020 hoping that if the ships were in Chinese waters the Chinese would accept their cargos. That hasn't happened. Instead there are hundreds of bulkers anchored off China loaded with Australian iron ore and coal waiting to be unloaded. Nothing is being unloaded. China is buying elsewhere at about double the rate they paid for the Australian commodities.

Five Eyes may drop NZ to become Four Eyes.

Replace New Zealand with Japan.

As a Canadian, I appreciate the situation the NZ government is in, because our government (used) to have to do the same dance with the US that NZ is trying to do with China.

Unfortunately, our politicians have basically given it up decades ago, which means we are going to be shackled to whatever positions the US takes, no matter how wrong, and how much it hurts us both economically and internationally.

Years ago, I recall how frustrating it was for me to remind globalists and other neo-libs of the fact that China is a communist authoritarian state and that thus partnering with it thru the global supply chain and offshoring would eventually wreak untold harm on the West.

Thank god, many now are finally coming around to my worldview, although the seeds may have already been sown. The globalists may well sell us out in the end.