China slams 'gross interference' from Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison's joint statement on Hong

Kong and Xinjiang

Henry Cooke14:20, Jun 01 2021

ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says New Zealand has not sold out its values to China.

China has slammed “gross interference” from New Zealand and Australia after the two countries issued
a joint statement expressing concern about Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

The statement was issued after prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison met in Queenstown
on Monday.

China’s foreign affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin was asked about the statement in his regular press
conference and responded to say his country was "deeply concerned” about the “irresponsible
remarks.”

Prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison met in Queenstown on Monday.

“The leaders of Australia and New Zealand, with irresponsible remarks on China's internal affairs relating
to Hong Kong and Xinjiang as well as the South China Sea issue, have made groundless accusations
against China, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously violated the international law
and basic norms governing international relations,” he said, in an English translation provided by the
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

”China opposes this.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the response was “predictable”.

“China has reacted in a very predictable way on the issues that we've already raised with China,”
Mahuta said.

The joint statement issued by the two prime ministers spoke about “serious concerns” over
developments in the South China Sea, “deep concerns” about human rights in Hong Kong, and “grave
concerns” about human rights in Xinjiang.

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These are long-standing issues in the China relationship that New Zealand has commented on before,
but there has been serious speculation in recent months that New Zealand was “softening” on China
after it decided not to join Five Eyes’ statements on the matter. (New Zealand maintains that it is
uncomfortable with the Five Eyes intelligence network being used as a diplomatic bloc, not any kind of
softening of views).

Both Ardern and Morrison were at pains to describe the two nations as in lockstep on China on Monday.

The Global Times, a tabloid newspaper operated by the Chinese Communist Party, had praised New
Zealand for taking a “responsible” stance on China.

Without directly referencing China, Morrison said anyone seeking to divide Australia and New Zealand
would fail.

“There will be those far from here that seek to divide us. They will not succeed,” Morrison said.

Wang said in his statement that China that Hong Kong and Xinjiang are “purely internal affairs” for
China.

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Henry Cooke • Chief Political Reporter

henry.cooke@stuff.co.nz

“I would like to reiterate that Hong Kong is China's Special Administrative Region and its affairs are
purely China's internal affairs. China will not waver in its determination and confidence to uphold the
principle of One Country, Two Systems and safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Nor will
China waver in its resolve and will to reject any external interference in China's internal affairs,” he said.

He also commented more widely on the Pacific region. Morrison said on Monday that the two countries
should pursue an “Anzac path” on security in the space, where China has been very active in recent
years.

“China maintains that the development of bilateral relations between countries in the region should
help enhance mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region, and be conducive to peace
and stability in the Asia Pacific, instead of targeting or damaging the interests of third parties, and much
less forming enclosed small clique with ideology as the yardstick,” Wang said, in an English translation
provided by the Ministry.

New Zealand China scholar Anne-Marie Brady said this translation was inaccurate however, missing the
phrase Australia and New Zealand bilateral relations “should not target or harm the interests of third
parties, let alone be delineated by ideology”.