China Policies Of New Zealand In The 21^st Century

New Zealand shares the same root as other Anglo Saxon nations and has stood with its allies,mainly the United States and Australia,in many cases.However,New Zealand also realizes the importance of an increasingly thriving China and boasts “four firsts” in trade and finance with the People’s Republic of China(PRC).In the global context of major power competitions,New Zealand-China relations are confronted with pressure from Western countries,on top of which the United States and Australia.While Donald Trump’s presidency allowed room for New Zealand to maneuver,the Biden administration has been committed to forming an anti-China alliance that no doubt includes New Zealand,which puts Wellington in a difficult position since China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner and is attached top significance to by the New Zealand government.The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta have both more than once expressed Wellington’s will to remain diplomatically independent on China policies.So far,Wellington has,in general,carefully and flexibly managed a deliberately ambiguous attitude to maintain a balance between its traditional allies and China.New Zealand’s physical scale renders it a small island state and thus relatively dependent and vulnerable in economy,geopolitics and diplomacy,which restricts it from taking assertive and forceful moves against either China or the Western side.Still,New Zealand differs from most other small states in that it perseveres in diplomatic autonomy and has so far stuck to independent foreign policies.Remaining sober in China policies and demonstrating leadership in issues like denuclearization,climate change and regional security,New Zealand has exhibited a highly resilient and autonomous national identity.The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the deterioration of China-US and China-Australia relations,partly resulting in the increasing role played by New Zealand in the global games in relation to Indo-Pacific Strategy,Belt and Road Initiative,climate change,trade and economy,regional security and even military cooperation.A stable and healthy relationship with New Zealand,therefore,can be of importance for China in its dealing with the United States,Australia and other Western countries.