Opinion | Ardern, PM of New Zealand, earns China's trust and dwarfs Scott Morrison

By Augustus K. Yeung

There is a Chinese proverb, "A long journey tests the horse-power of a maverick; a cumulative record of days unravels the big heartedness of a human-being."

HIGHLIGHT: NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JACINTA ARDERN 'WILL SPEAK OUT ON CHINA'

- PM rejects suggestions that economic ties are muting her ability to raise concerns on human rights, according to Agence France-Presse in Wellington.

Introduction

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern is Standing Tall Among her Peers in the Region. She is far more "mature" and outstanding in communication skills—all round--than the Australian "boys" in her backyard. They have been behaving more like boxers than leaders of a nation.

As that Chinese proverb suggests Ardern Jacinta, the Prime Minister of New Zealand is far too bright compared with the Australian dumb boys; time will tell that she is the stuff that UN Secretary Generals are made of.

"Lucky New Zealand!" China lauds the nation's voters for placing a brainy lady on the pedestal as New Zealand's prime minister. Just look at her outstanding performance and listen to the diplomatic ways she fielded the tough questions from the news mongers, some from America.

Why New Zealand Will not Shy Away from Criticizing?

New Zealand will not shy away from criticizing China's human rights record--to protect its lucrative trade relationships with Beijing, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said in an interview.

Ardern's administration has been accused of "going easy on China's much questioned humanitarian record", prompting some woeful commentators to label New Zealand a "weak link" in the Five Eyes security alliance.

Calmly, the outstanding leader rejected suggestions that economic ties with her country's largest trading partner were muting her ability to voice broader concerns.

"It is very important to us that we maintain integrity in the way that we conduct our diplomatic relationships," she said in a joint interview with AFP, The New Zealand Herald, NBC News and Covering Climate Now, showing great composure in a difficult situation.

Ardern was Aware of Trade "Tensions" in the Region

The Prime Minister noted "heightened tensions" between China and Australia, which has been hit with--punitive sanctions by Beijing over its outspoken stance--on issues such as the trumped-up "treatment" of Uygurs, and the so-called "erosion of democracy" in Hong Kong, which had been a victim of America's interference and meddling for more than a year. A fact that the Biden administration has admitted, according to Alex Lo, a South China Morning Post columnist.

New Zealand has diplomatically raised concerns about the same issues--but has been more restrained in its statements--and has not faced any hostile economic retaliation.

The Ardern administration resolutely declined to support a parliamentary motion in May labelling the treatment of Uygurs as genocide—saying, "the legal case to use the term had not been made", and instead expressed "grave concern".

Ardern Excelled Herself in Superior Communication

Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern of New Zealand was honest enough to have said that she was "uncomfortable" using the Five Eyes group – comprising the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand—to criticize China on rights issues, which were based on flimsy grounds such as "hearsays" and biased American reporters' "cheap shots".

She insisted New Zealand's diplomatic ties with China were not determined by trade. "We have the maturity in our relationship to raise issues that we're concerned about, be it human rights issues, be it labour issues, be it environmental issues," she said.

"And it's very important to us that we continue to be able to do that and do that regardless of those trading ties."

Would Ardern Classify China as Ally or Adversary?

Asked if she would classify China as an ally or an adversary, she replied: "I don't think we would determine our relationship with any country in such stark terms."

Earlier this year, Ardern said that New Zealand's differences with China on human rights were becoming "harder to reconcile", but her government would continue to point out areas of concern to Beijing.

Meanwhile, she told American network NBC that under President Joe Biden, the US had "an incredibly important role" to play in strategic defence, economy and trade ties in the region.

"We welcome that physical presence, being part of important talks in our region," Ardern told the Meet the Press programme. "And we have seen, we have seen that greater…engagement in recent times."

Additional reporting by Reuters (Source: "ARDERN 'WILL SPEAK OUT ON CHINA.'" South China Morning Post, Sunday, November 7, 2021.)

Conclusion

After America exits Afghanistan, it hurriedly pivots to Asia-Pacific, and easily recruited Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison--who foolishly broke an earlier deal with France over buying its diesel-electric-powered submarines--risks damaging the nation's credibility, only to sign up for a membership by joining the Aukus pact, becoming a "backbencher" in the new American-built compartment.

When Jacinta Ardern, the New Zealand Prime Minister had refused to join the three wonton English-speaking white-boys' nuclear-powered submarine club, the US and its allies mobilized 4 heavy weight pro-West media outlets, attempting to intimidate or even coerce peace-loving New Zealanders into following the US leader in his Asia-Pacific war overture. But she calmly and subtly sends them the message, "You can talk till the cows come home: you'll never make me change my mind." How ingenuous! And how ingenious at solving difficult crossword puzzles!

The wise way she rebuffs the tough questions, and her skillful answers clearly shows her "maturity", wisdom, "integrity", sense of balance and unusually good communication skills, wows the whole world, and keeps China's leaders wondering what a gem has been kept in this part of the forgotten world, which had long been spoken ill of by Charles Dickens in the Victorian era, when only England's criminals were sent to Australia by Queen Victoria, according to our world-famous great British novelist.

Will Scott Morrison (the man who is currently being surrounded by Australia's former spy chiefs, posing as "patriotic" national security advisers) together with his belligerent and bull-like Defense Minister Dutton be any different?

Why can't there be a good-natured Jacinta Ardern born as a gift from God to Australia?!

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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