The Chinese Embassy has accused the head of the New Zealand intelligence service of spreading false information about the influence of Beijing in the Pacific.
The Chinese Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, accused the chief of the local news service on “spreading false information” on Thursday. He had previously warned of the growing influence of Beijing in the Pacific. TASR reports this based on Reuters report.
Last week, Andrew Hampton, Director General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, said in his speech that the Pacific countries focused on economic and multinational crime, opening China’s door to signing strategic agreements to interconnect “economic and security cooperation”. He also accused China of trying to “create competitive regional architecture and expand his influence on the Pacific island countries”.
According to the Chinese Embassy, Hampton’s statements are “completely unsubstantiated and fictional.” The head of the secret service called on China not to look at the Optics of the Cold War and “the mentality of the game with zero sum”.
Reuters recalls that several Pacific States have in recent years have concluded agreements with China, which is concerned about New Zealand, which is an ally of Western states and a member of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance along with Britain, USA, Canada and Australia.
According to the World Agency, Cook’s islands, which are freely associated with New Zealand, are at the center of the tension between Wellington and Beijing. If necessary, it provides the islands in the field of defense and foreign affairs. However, they have their own international personality and implement their own foreign policy.
Prime Minister Mark Brown traveled to China in February, where he signed an agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership with Chinese Prime Minister Li Čiang.
New Zealand has criticized the journey and claims that every international agreement with such strategic and security value should be consulted with Wellington. However, China said that all parts of the agreement were published and there is no “secret agenda”.
