Her words might have sounded tough to a domestic audience but in fact they\u2019ll go down fine in China<\/p>\n
Jacinda Ardern\u2019s Labour government is achieving something no other western country has done \u2013 staying on side with China. Her latest speech on relations with China once again shows the west how deft diplomacy is done \u2013 with a carefully choreographed message that reiterates New Zealand is not joining the western aggression against the country\u2019s biggest trading partner<\/a>, while at the same time voicing some necessary hard words about human rights abuses.<\/p>\n The prime minister gave a highly anticipated keynote speech<\/a> at the China Business Summit in Auckland on Monday, which clarified her government\u2019s orientation to China following a controversial speech two weeks ago by the foreign minister<\/a>, Nanaia Mahuta. Mahuta had said that New Zealand won\u2019t simply follow the Five Eyes security alliance\u2019s condemnation of China. Today, Ardern essentially endorsed Mahuta\u2019s distancing from western allies, arguing her government would make its own decisions on how to communicate its concerns about human rights abuses. Then speaking in a Q and A session she used a sporting analogy, saying \u201cI\u2019m often asked which lane are we swimming in. We swim in New Zealand\u2019s lane.\u201d This is a very clear rebuff to the increasing pressure from western allies for her government to take a harder line.<\/p>\n