The appearance of three Chinese naval vessels firing live rounds in the Tasman Sea has caused understandable alarm in New Zealand and Australia. But this has more to do with the geopolitical context than the actual event.
In fact, the Chinese navy is allowed to conduct exercises in the Tasman and has wide freedoms on the high seas in general. So far, China appears to be acting in accordance with both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.
Sure, but here it’s the timing that’s important. The Chinese actions reek of ‘We can do we want and you can’t stop us.’ And if you think it’s just a coincidence that this is all happening when China is doing deals with the Cook Islands, I have a bridge that stretches all the way to Beijing to sell you.
[…] For China, of course, Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea are highly disputed territory. The Tasman Sea is not. But what is disputed is China’s role and influence in the Pacific – and this, rather than a minor naval exercise, is what is causing headaches in Canberra and Wellington.
Which cuts to the heart of the issue. Basically China is engaging in a bit of power play, throwing its weight around, if you will.
The surprise agreement signed by the Cook Islands and China under a fortnight ago, aimed at “deepening blue economy cooperation,” is the immediate context for that concern.
Yes, just a bit of a coincidence.
[…] What really challenges New Zealand’s foreign policy is how this opens the South Pacific up to even greater Chinese influence and activity. Foreign Minister Winston Peters has signaled it is time to reset the relationship with the Cooks.
You don’t have to be a geopolitical genius to see what’s happening. The Chinese economy is tanking and so it needs to go to war. And you can either take over a country using bullets or you can take over a country with a big fat wallet. No prizes for guessing what China is doing.
For its part, China has asserted that its relationship with the Cook Islands “is not directed against any third party and should not be subject to or disrupted by any third party”.
Yeah, sure.
[…] The question now is whether China has scored an own goal with its recent actions. Because while it might prefer New Zealand to operate a more independent foreign policy – balancing its relations with east and west – the opposite may now be more likely.
[…] At the same time, the government now seems committed to joining a new arms race and increasing defense spending as a proportion of GDP. And the supposed benefits of joining the second tier of the AUKUS security pact may now become that much easier to sell politically.
That’s if we haven’t sold out to China already and just don’t know it. With Luxon in charge, it wouldn’t surprise me.
And of course, China has been “extending its influence” in the South Pacific for a while now, with the Cook Islands being only the latest nation to sell its soul to the CCP.
Source:
https://theconversation.com/a-chinese-own-goal-how-war-games-in-the-tasman-sea-could-push-nz-closer-to-aukus-250615
Kevin is a Libertarian and pragmatic anarchist. His favourite saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.” This article was first published HERE
Kevin is a Libertarian and pragmatic anarchist. His favourite saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.” This article was first published HERE
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