REGION: NZ Foreign Minister questions China's influence in the Pacific
AUCKLAND (Television New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters has again hinted the Ardern government may exit China's One Belt One Road initiative as Wellington "resets" its strategic focus to the
Pacific.
With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern beginning her first trip across the region today, Peters told Television New Zealand’s Q & A show the Pacific was where New Zealand mattered and could do most.
But, alluding to China's influence, he said a number of countries had been intervening in the Pacific in ways that were
"not helpful".
"Our job is to ensure that the engagement of other countries in the Pacific is for the interests of the Pacific and the
security and prosperity of the neighbourhood," he said.
Peters said the previous government had been too hasty to sign up to China's One Belt One Road initiative, with the
implications for New Zealand unclear.
His coalition government would instead move slower in relation to the deal.
'Shifting the dial'
"It's a case of shifting the dial, it's a case of having our eyes wide open, it's a Pacific reset in circumstances where
we must do far better," he said.
"Our aid, for example, is on the decline, to go down to 0.21 (per cent of gross domestic product) from 0.30 (per cent)
just eight years ago."
He said low aid levels from New Zealand would not "stack up against countries with a big cheque book", who were not
always acting in the Pacific's interest.
Fresh from a diplomatic trip across the Tasman, Ardern departs for Samoa today on the first leg of her first annual
Pacific Mission.
She and a team of politicians, representatives from charities and Pasifika community leaders will then travel to Tonga,
Niue and the Cook Islands during the week, engaging in diplomacy and taking in the local hospitality.
Ardern on Friday said there was a range of issues facing the Pacific, including climate change, resource use and
globalisation.
New Zealand and Australia's role was to "amplify the voice of our Pacific neighbours and do so in partnership with
them", she said.
This year's Pacific Mission will also take particular note of the recovery of Tonga and Samoa after Cyclone Gita in
February.