New Zealand treads lightly amid increased China-Australia tensions

This appeared in The Millennial Source

In what was once an amicable relationship based solely on trade, New Zealand is increasingly finding itself caught up in the growing tensions between Australia and Beijing.

It is not often that the Chinese foreign ministry threatens to poke your eyes out. It’s even less common if you are New Zealand — traditionally considered a non-combatant in the rising tensions between the West and Beijing.

The Five Eyes — the anglosphere nations of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — criticized Beijing’s increasing encroachment of Hong Kong. Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, had some words for the Five Eyes.

“No matter how many eyes they have, five or 10 or whatever, should anyone dare to undermine China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, be careful not to get poked in the eye.”

Typically, New Zealand has been exempted when spokespeople for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) talk tough against the West. However, the relationship between New Zealand and China may be changing.

In what was once an amicable relationship based solely on trade, New Zealand is increasingly finding itself not only caught between…