Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
NZ wary of China's emergence - WikiLeaks
NZ wary of China's emergence - WikiLeaks
Links by China's armed forces to Pacific countries were a growing concern for New Zealand on top of concerns about Beijing's chequebook diplomacy, leaked diplomatic cables from the United States Embassy in Wellington show.
A cable in February 2006 describes how the People's Liberation Army gave substantially more aid to defence forces in Fiji and in Tonga than New Zealand did, according to Ministry of Defence international policy division director Paul Sinclair.
"Equally troublesome are reported PLA links to paramilitary forces in Vanuatu," the cable said.
Senior Defence official Chris Seed "said PLA activities in the Pacific Islands pose real security problems for New Zealand".
"He added that New Zealand forces have no direct dialogue with the PLA on this issue because the PRC [People's Republic of China] tightly controls military visits to New Zealand. These have declined from five or six to three visits a year."
ENDS
Scoop
Scoop Independent News
Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.
UNFPA: UNFPA Calls On The Global Community To Stand With Women And Youth In Afghanistan
Climate Action Network: CAN Reaction To US Elections Outcome
UN News: Early Warning Systems Critical As World Marks Tsunami Awareness Day
ITUC: ILO Governing Body Recognises Palestine As A State
Burness: At COP16, Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities Await Final Word On Decisions Impacting World’s Most Biodiverse Regions
UN News: Deadly Floods In Spain Highlight Need To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions