New Zealand says Pacific islands can make own decisions on China ties & More News Here

SINGAPORE, June 11 (Reuters) – New Zealand Minister of Defence Peeni Henare stated on Saturday that Pacific island nations have the liberty to make their own decisions about cooperation with China, as Beijing seeks nearer army ties with the strategically necessary area.

China signed a safety pact with the Solomon Islands in April, alarming the United States, Australia and New Zealand, who concern a stepped-up army presence by Beijing. learn extra

Beijing has stated that it’s not establishing a army base within the Solomon Islands and that its objective is to strengthen safety cooperation with Pacific island nations.

Henare informed Reuters that New Zealand believed within the sovereignty of these nations, and that it was not in anybody’s pursuits to attempt to coerce a sure consequence.

“Our job is to support them, to make sure they make strong decisions for themselves,” Henare informed Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s high defence assembly.

“We will continue to maintain that policy. … We can’t be paternalistic.”

Henare stated he met with Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe at a safety summit in Singapore this week, the place he reiterated the significance of the Pacific islands sustaining their independence.

“My point to them was very clear, that we support independence, we support sovereign nations and sovereign states, like the many in the Pacific,” he stated.

“In our dialogue with them, they (China) were pushing that they … come in peace, that they want to look towards security and sustainability, prosperity across the Pacific,” he added.

The Solomon Islands and Fiji despatched delegations to the summit and had been scheduled to talk at periods over the weekend.

U.S. President Joe Biden and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated final month that any persistent Chinese army presence within the Pacific islands would pose a regional safety menace. learn extra

The U.S. and its allies are involved China’s nearer ties with Pacific islands might mirror Beijing’s technique within the South China Sea, the place it has steadily constructed up its army presence in recent times.

China has begun upgrading Cambodia’s largest naval base, it emerged final week, within the newest signal of its army enlargement within the area. learn extra

Henare stated “open dialogue” was key to managing safety relations with China.

“It’s not by coincidence that I met with China to make sure we can hear each other out and be very direct,” he stated.

Reporting by Joe Brock. Editing by Gerry Doyle

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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