Photo: RNZ/ Vinay Ranchhod
University of Waikato s Dr Reuben Steff said it was clear 10 to 15 years ago that if New Zealand continued to increase exports to China, it would soon end up having to tip-toe between the emerging global super power on the one hand and the US, UK, Australia and Canada on the other. It was pretty clear that as China s power rose it would eventually start butting heads pretty heavily with the United States and yet we have still sleep-walked into this position, Dr Steff said.
His comments come as an RNZ data analysis shows China now accounts for one third of New Zealand s merchandise export earnings, with more than $11 billion coming from food and beverage exports. In 2020, China was our top buyer of dairy produce, sheep meat, seafood, kiwifruit, honey, water and second biggest buyer of beef.
New Zealand sleep-walked into a position where it is torn between its economic dependence on China and its traditional allies, a foreign policy expert says.
University of Waikato s Reuben Steff said it was clear 10 to 15 years ago that if New Zealand continued to increase exports to China, it would soon end up having to tip-toe between the emerging global superpower on the one hand and the US, UK, Australia and Canada on the other. It was pretty clear that as China s power rose it would eventually start butting heads pretty heavily with the United States and yet we have still sleep-walked into this position, Dr Steff said.
• Source:
New Zealand sleep-walked into a position where it is torn between its economic dependence on China and its traditional allies, a foreign policy expert says. Source: 1 NEWS
By Farah Hancock of rnz.co.nz
University of Waikato s Dr Reuben Steff said it was clear 10 to 15 years ago that if New Zealand continued to increase exports to China, it would soon end up having to tip-toe between the emerging global super power on the one hand and the US, UK, Australia and Canada on the other. It was pretty clear that as China s power rose it would eventually start butting heads pretty heavily with the United States and yet we have still sleep-walked into this position, Dr Steff said.