New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins recently conducted an official state visit to China, marking his first visit since assuming office earlier this year. During the trip, several economic and trade agreements were signed between the two nations. Notably, Hipkins expressed a differing viewpoint from Joe Biden’s characterization of Xi Jinping as a “dictator,” which had strained relations between their respective countries. Chinese state media commended New Zealand as a positive example of how Western nations should handle their relationship with China.
As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, New Zealand stands as the unique member with its own distinct perspective. While it joined other nations in a statement condemning China’s “economic coercion” after the G7 summit, New Zealand continues to seek closer trade ties with China. This stance sets it apart from neighboring Australia, which maintains a more confrontational approach and a strong pro-US position, despite sharing a similarly prosperous economic relationship with China.
New Zealand differs from its Five Eyes counterparts in several aspects. It is the least populous and least densely populated among the group and holds a strong pacifist stance. The country’s unique identity is influenced by its pre-colonization and indigenous Maori heritage, which has shaped it into an English-speaking nation with Polynesian characteristics.
Unlike Australia, Canada, and the United States, whose foundations were built upon the displacement and marginalization of native populations during the formation of Anglophone capitalist societies, New Zealand represents a more nuanced compromise. The Maori people fiercely resisted British colonization, demonstrating resourcefulness and resilience. Although eventually brought under British rule and subject to the hardships that followed, their cultural heritage, language, and self-esteem have endured and flourished, influencing the white settlers known as Pakeha.
Geography and size play a significant role in New Zealand’s foreign policy choices. As an isolated nation with a population of 5 million heavily reliant on agricultural exports, access to large markets is crucial for its economic well-being. China, with its vast population and limited arable land, becomes an essential market for New Zealand’s agricultural products. This symbiotic relationship has resulted in a trade surplus of over $20 billion, providing significant benefits to the country. Considering New Zealand’s vulnerability compared to Australia, adopting an antagonistic stance toward Beijing could have severe consequences. Trade disputes, similar to the aggressive foreign policy pursued by Australia’s Scott Morrison, would have a more detrimental impact on New Zealand. Unlike Australia, which possesses critical mineral resources that China heavily relies on, New Zealand lacks such leverage.
Consequently, New Zealand remains the most unique and vulnerable member of the Five Eyes alliance. Its approach to foreign policy is less confrontational and exceptionalist, while its economic model necessitates close cooperation with China. This dynamic benefits Beijing, as it perceives a weak point in American influence in the Pacific, recognizing that the Five Eyes alliance may not be as united as it appears.
RELATED ARTICLES
- USA Issues Threat to Hungary over Continuous Support for Putin
- Biden Reveals Super Powerful Secret US Weapons such as Space Energy Canon
- Poland Demands NATO members Raise their Investment to 3% of GDP
- UK Warns that China is Preparing for Total Nuclear War with the West
- Russia & China Plan Building Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon
Loading ...
Roth child’s puppet loser pm