Peters won’t back down on China
Winston Peters has no intention of “correcting” the position the Government has taken regarding China’s activity in the region, despite calls to do so by China’s foreign ministry.
The Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister was commenting on a statement on Tuesday by China’s Foreign Ministry to change its statement which it described as wrong and irresponsible.
“We urge New Zealand to view the relevant issue in an objective way, correct its wrong words and deeds and contribute more to the mutual trust and co-operation between our two countries,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.
“We have lodged stern representations with New Zealand on the wrong remarks it has made on China . . . China’s development poses no threat to others,” she said. “Instead it will provide other countries around the globe with important opportunities.”
She said China’s position on the South China Seas issue was consistent. “China’s construction in its own territory by the South China Seas are completely justified and legitimate. Nobody is in the position to make irresponsible remarks on that. While firmly safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, China is committed to peacefully resolving the disputes through talks and negotiation with the countries directly concerned.”
Peters said that the statement was right, not wrong. “The words weren’t wrong,” he said. “We are a sovereign nation and we believe in being frank and upfront with the New Zealand people and indeed our neighbourhood.”
China has taken exception to the Strategic Defence Policy Statement, released on Friday by Defence Minister Ron Mark.
Past governments and Peters himself have been less explicit in criticising China. But this document was explicit in calling it out. It drew attention to its different “views” on human rights to New Zealand. Peters said that China had expressed its concern with the statement to New Zealand’s ambassador in Beijing, Clare Fearnley, and through its ambassador in Wellington, Madam Wu Xi.