WELLINGTON (Reuters) – China’s embassy in New Zealand has reprimanded New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden for her remarks at a NATO summit on Chinese self-confidence, calling them “misplaced” and “misplaced”. Ardern said in Madrid on Wednesday that China “has also recently become more dynamic and more willing to challenge international rules and regulations.” “We have taken note of the relevant comment made by the New Zealand side at the NATO summit, which includes some misguided accusations against China,” a embassy spokesman said in a statement on its website on Thursday. “This claim is wrong and therefore sad.” “It is clear that such a comment is not helpful in deepening mutual trust between the two countries,” the statement said. New Zealand, which is heavily dependent on China for trade, often avoids direct criticism from Beijing. However, it has recently sharpened its tone on both security and Beijing’s growing presence in the South Pacific following the recent signing of a security pact between China and the nearby Solomon Islands. The embassy statement also referred to Ardern’s comments on efforts to disrupt and destabilize the Pacific and said any escalation of tensions in the Pacific “could not have been caused by China’s cooperation with its island partners to promote sustainable development.” Such co-operation had nothing to do with the militarization of the region, the statement added. “If there really is militarization in the South Pacific, it is clear to everyone who and what is fueling such tensions.” (Report by Lucy Craymer, edited by Richard Pullin)
