In a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, the foreign minister of New Zealand raised concerns about the freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region.
In a meeting with her Chinese colleague, New Zealand’s foreign minister reportedly voiced worries about China’s violations of human rights and the escalating hostilities with Taiwan.
In response to “deep concerns regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong,” Nanaia Mahuta informed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, according to a statement released on Saturday.
She expressed worries “over developments in the South China Sea” in her discussions with Qin, according to the statement.
This week, Mahuta made the first trip to China in almost a year by a New Zealand foreign minister.
It was also brought up that China and Russia have relations, and Mahuta stated that Wellington “would be concerned by any provision of lethal aid in support of Russia’s illegal war.”
China, New Zealand’s top commercial partner, has already come under fire for accusations that the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang is being oppressed.
Additionally, it has sided with the US in accusing China of wanting to expand its military footprint in the Pacific.
The 23.5 million residents of Taiwan constantly fear being invaded by China, which considers the self-governing democracy to be a part of its territory that should one day be taken, by force if necessary.
President Xi Jinping has increased Beijing’s sabre-rattling in recent years, and Taiwan’s concerns that China would take a similar action have grown as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During her journey, Mahuta also had a meeting with Wang Yi, the head of China’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission.
She expressed the expectation that her visit would lead to the commencement of “high-level” negotiations between the two countries, mentioning the anticipated arrival of Chris Hipkins, the incoming prime minister of incoming Zealand.
I emphasized the need of a peaceful, stable, and resilient Pacific region, said Mahuta.