US offers support on China
A senior US official says American intelligence agencies are willing to collaborate with security agencies over allegations of Chinese interference in New Zealand.
The US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security, Randall Schriver, also revealed he personally knew Christchurch academic Ann Marie Brady, whose 2017 research paper Magic Weapons details China’s alleged attempts to influence political activity in New Zealand.
Police are investigating allegations that Brady’s car was sabotaged, and her home and office broken into. Brady has asked for protection from police and the Security Intelligence Service.
Schriver confirmed he had spoken to Brady about some of the issues raised in her paper.
The Government has downplayed allegations of Chinese political interference and Schriver said that was unsurprising given what had been experienced in other countries.
‘‘Australia had a major review from the National government that discovered certain malign behaviour on the part of the Chinese. We have China, for instance, attempting to influence our own politics and Vice President Pence and President Trump have spoken about that.
‘‘But we fully trust the Government in Wellington and the people of New Zealand to sort through that. We will watch with interest and if there’s anyway to collaborate with intelligence on those lines I’m sure we would hope that this is something the Government here will take on.’’
Police, Interpol and the Security Intelligence Service have reportedly been involved in the investigation.
Schriver said he knew Brady and greatly respected her scholarship. He confirmed that he spoke to her about a year ago, before his current position in the Trump administration, ‘‘and we talked about Chinese influence operations and perception management campaigns and the like’’.
Shriver’s visit here coincides with increasingly aggressive diplomacy from China in the region and US push back, particularly in relation to smaller Pacific nations.
There has also been a more visible push back under Jacinda Ardern’s government – its Pacific reset, led by Foreign Minister Winston Peters, is part of a broader push to counter China’s chequebook diplomacy among cash strapped Pacific nations.
Schriver was in Wellington for talks with defence officials, including his New Zealand counterpart, Defence Minister Ron Mark. The visit also coincided with the unveiling of a US memorial at the Pukeahu National War Memorial.
Schriver said it seemed that the Chinese had aspirations to be a more influential power in the region but rejected suggestions of a push from the US for countries to ‘‘choose sides’’ between itself and China. ‘‘China is a reality in this region, its size, its economic strength, its increasing military activity . . . there’s no-one who can wish that away. We have our own relationship with China. We’re not here to say choose one or the other or not have a relationship with China.’’
Meanwhile, Peters has confirmed high level meetings in the US this week.