Jacinda Ardern’s tricky China policy

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has had a busy week on the international circuit. On Friday she appeared in front of a packed audience at London’s Chatham House to discuss New Zealand’s international outlook and to laud what she described as a ‘gold standard free trade agreement’ signed with the UK. And though New Zealand is not a member of Nato, Ardern was also invited to attend its leaders’ summit in Madrid on Wednesday, along with other leaders of the Asia Pacific.

Arguably it was Ardern’s tempered warnings about China that stood out. In a speech to the summit, Ardern said: ‘China has in recent times… become more assertive and more willing to challenge international rules.’

The Chinese embassy in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, hit back at the remarks, calling them ‘misguided’ and ‘not helpful for deepening mutual trust’.

Though the wording of China’s most recent response will likely make New Zealand uncomfortable from a trade perspective, it is unlikely to trouble Wellington too much.