PM Christopher Luxon shrugs off critics as he heads to China

Christopher Luxon's three-day trip to Shanghai and Beijing comes at what he describes as a "complex" but "mature" stage in the bilateral relationship
Photo:
RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is flying to China this morning, pledging to continue a "considered" course amid "choppier waters" worldwide - even as former political leaders call for a rethink.
The three-day trip to Shanghai and Beijing comes at what Luxon describes as a "complex" but "mature" stage in the bilateral relationship, as well as a fraught time in international affairs with Israel and Iran in open warfare.
"It's a pretty volatile time," Luxon told RNZ. "It's really important, from a New Zealand point of view, that we navigate choppier waters... [to get] to a good place."
The visit to China is Luxon's first since he took office in November 2023.
Earlier this month, a line-up of ex-politicians - including Helen Clark, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Sir David Carter and Don Brash - published an open letter urging Luxon to adopt a less "adversarial stance" towards China.
But China expert Professor Anne-Marie Brady told RNZ the letter's authors were overlooking China's "direct threat to NZ" and instead endorsed the coalition's "careful" approach of looking for common ground while also "facing up to differences".
In a one-on-one sitdown with RNZ before departure, Luxon downplayed any tensions and said he would use the trip as one would expect: to advance New Zealand's best interests.
"It's a very calm, considered, thoughtful, consistent, predictable relationship," he told RNZ. "Where we have differences, we raise them publicly and privately, consistently and predictably."
The comments are very much in line with those of his prime ministerial predecessors Chris Hipkins and Dame Jacinda Ardern.
Travelling with Luxon aboard the Defence Force's Boeing 757 are a delegation of 28 business leaders, media, and an award-winning kapa haka group.
The whirlwind visit includes a packed schedule of business events and high-level talks with China's top three leaders: President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress standing committee.
Asked to assess the current bilateral relationship, Brady - a professor of political science at the University of Canterbury - called it "rather tender".
Jason Young - from the Contemporary China Research Centre - said ties were "more strained" than in the past, while former Prime Minister Helen Clark warned the "special relationship" was in jeopardy.
Christopher Luxon meets with China's President, Xi Jinping, at the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru on November 16, 2024.
Photo:
Pool / Chris Skelton
Luxon's visit comes more than 18 months into his term, making China the 22nd country he's visited. That's longer than it took Ardern to visit, a wait which,
at the time
, had National publicly questioning whether the relationship was in trouble.
In his interview with RNZ, Luxon waved away the long wait, pointing out he sat down with Premier Li in Wellington a year ago and President Xi on the sidelines of APEC in Peru in November.
But the coalition has also conducted just four ministerial visits to China so far, compared to at least seven over the first half of Labour's 2017 term and 15 over the first half of National's 2014 term.
Brady traces the shift in approach back to the 2017 Labour-NZ First coalition amid concerns about foreign interference: "It's a relationship that has changed a lot."
Since 2018, New Zealand's spy agencies have repeatedly called out China for malicious activity including cyber-attacks and espionage. The 2023 MFAT Strategic Assessment highlighted "a more assertive China" and named a potential "shift in the strategic balance in the Pacific" as a serious concern for both the region and New Zealand's own security.
In just the past week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters referenced "external pushes in our region to coerce, cajole and constrain" in a speech at the Pacific-France summit.
And in April, Defence Minister Judith Collins cited China's more aggressive actions when justifying plans to double military spending as a share of GDP.
The accompanying Defence Capability Plan flagged the "the rapid and non-transparent growth of China's military capability".
In turn, China's embassy in NZ has frequently pushed back in public comments, denying all wrongdoing and criticising government statements and actions.
Brady told RNZ the government was steering "a careful course between the great powers" while promoting the rules-based international order.
"It's a protective and an independent approach to dealing with China, one that recognises our interests, whether they're economic or strategic," she said.
"That's the only approach to apply in dealing with China at the moment."
Helen Clark.
Photo:
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
But a high-powered line-up of former politicians disagrees, urging Luxon to "make it clear at the highest level that New Zealand retains its bipartisan commitment to its strategic partnership with China".
In an open letter, Clark and others warned that needless antagonism risked serious fallout with the country's largest trading partner: "We see no upside and very considerable downside in the situation which has developed."
They point to the government's alignment with US-led groupings, closer defence ties with the Philippines, and the authorisation for a naval vessel to sail through the Taiwan Strait.
Sir David Carter, a former National minister and Speaker, told RNZ the coalition risked souring relations with China which could carry serious economic consequences.
He pointed to Australia, where China imposed trade restrictions after diplomatic tensions.
"That would be very detrimental to New Zealand agriculture," he said.
Sir David, also a patron of the NZ China Friendship Society, said he worried the government was undervaluing the relationship and described the visit as long overdue.
"The Chinese expect to be respected for their significance to New Zealand," he told RNZ.
"I would have liked to have seen the prime minister make a trip to Beijing well before now... the sooner he's up there, the better."
Brady, however, rejected the arguments made in the open letter.
"The authors of this letter are criticising the response without looking at the crisis," she told RNZ.
"China is seeking to change the regional and global strategic order and that is a direct threat to New Zealand, as identified by successive governments."
Brady pointed to the evidence of serious foreign interference, militarisation in the Pacific, recent combat drills in the Tasman Sea, aggression in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, and ongoing human rights abuses.
Luxon also gave the criticisms short shrift: "Mate, I'll just say... you want to listen a little less to former politicians - maybe [listen to] the ones that are in the arena right now."
He said he was "not at all" concerned about potential relationship breakdown and economic retribution.
"That's a bit simplistic... this is a mature relationship. It's multi-dimensional. We make sure that we have huge areas of cooperation."
In response to the open letter, Peters issued a short statement, labelling the authors' arguments "tired".
"We have an independent foreign policy," he said. "With all countries, we expect them to respect that, and our right to differ. A decent relationship is one where people can and parties can disagree while continuing on their engagement."
Speaking to RNZ, former diplomat and NZ China Council chair John McKinnon, who is travelling with the delegation, declined to comment directly on the open letter, except to say a "diversity of opinions" was to be expected.
"It's a good relationship. It works well in terms of the substantial way in which we export to China, in which China contributes to our economy," he said.
"At the same time, there are things that China does... that people here don't like. And so there is that edge as well.
"The way in which this country has managed its relations with China over the years has always been to say: 'well, this is a great place, but we need to be able to talk about things which divide us'."
McKinnon said there were plenty of areas still for growth - notably around education and tourism.
"I would imagine that will be part of the promotional element of the visit," he said.
"There are many areas where you could see potential for cooperation... climate change, food sustainability, scientific cooperation."
On the eve of the trip, the coalition announced a visa waiver trial for Chinese passport holders visiting from Australia. But complete visa-free travel for tourists - like what China offers New Zealand travellers - is highly unlikely given concerns from officials.
Luxon cited a "tremendous amount" of opportunity for New Zealand to deepen trade with China and to improve awareness.
"We're bringing some of our CEOs of our largest food and beverage firms, but also tourism and education sector representatives as well.
"It's a chance for us to showcase and build awareness of those sectors back in the Chinese economy."
Asked whether it was wise for New Zealand to keep growing trade with its already largest trading partner, Luxon told RNZ he wanted to do business with as many countries as possible.
"There's 500 million people sitting in the middle class. They want premium food and beverage products. A lot of our New Zealand products are premium in nature and targeted to these niche segments. We want to continue to grow that."
Luxon will spend two nights in Shanghai and one night in Beijing before flying on to Europe to attend the annual NATO summit.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

RNZ News

3 hours ago

• RNZ News

China tightens internet controls with new centralised form of virtual ID

By John Liu , for CNN A man reads from his laptop as he eats, in April in Beijing, China. Photo: AFP/ Yin Gang China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world's most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID. Instead of requiring individuals to submit their personal information for identity checks separately on each platform, the government now seeks to centralise the process by issuing a virtual ID that will allow users to sign in across different social media apps and websites. The rules for the new system, currently voluntary, were released in late May and will be implemented in mid-July. It aims to "protect citizens' identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy," according to the published rules. Experts, however, have raised concerns that the new policy will further erode already limited freedom of expression by forcing internet users to relinquish even more control to the state. Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the country has further tightened its grip on the digital space through an army of censors. Deployed around the clock, they remove posts, suspend accounts and help authorities identify critics, quashing any sign of dissent before it can gain traction. The finalised rules were announced after a proposal that was opened for public comment last summer, a typical step in China's legislative process. During the course of the public consultation over the past year, the proposal faced backlash from law professors, human rights experts and some internet users. Yet, the finalised rules remained largely similar to the draft. "This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users," said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist studying internet freedom at the University of California, Berkeley. "It can directly erase voices it doesn't like from the internet, so it's more than just a surveillance tool - it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism." Control of China's vast portion of the global internet has largely been delegated to a decentralised range of different groups, with authorities relying partially on the social media platforms themselves to identify comments deemed problematic. Xiao warned that a centralised system using the internet ID could make it much easier for the government to wipe out a user's presence across multiple platforms at once. Shane Yi, a researcher at China Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, echoed Xiao's worries. The system gives the Chinese government expanded power to "do what they want when they see fit" on the internet, as authorities are able to track users' entire digital trail "from point zero," she said. Bus passengers use smartphones in Qingdao city, in the east of China's Shandong province, in 2019. Photo: AFP/ Zhan Hailin At home, Chinese state-run media has called the internet ID a "bullet-proof vest for personal information" and touted the system as being able to greatly reduce the risk of personal data leaks. Already, more than six million people have registered for the ID, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua last month, out of a total estimated online population of more than one billion. A cybersecurity official from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that the internet ID service was strictly "voluntary," but the government encourages various industries and sectors to integrate with it. "Its goal is to provide individuals with a secure, convenient, authoritative and efficient means of identity verification, in support of the development of the digital economy," the person was quoted as saying. But experts have also questioned how voluntary the system truly is and highlighted risks of potential data breaches, as personal information is now being collected in a centralised manner. Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that, although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could gradually evolve into a system which users may struggle not to opt in to. "If the government wants to promote this internet ID verification system, it can do so through various arrangements - essentially by encouraging people to adopt it, offering more conveniences in return," he said. Sun also raised concerns about the increased risks of data leaks. "A centralized, nationwide platform inherently creates a single point of vulnerability, making it an attractive target for hackers or hostile foreign actors," he said. Government data breaches have occurred around the world. One notable incident in China involved a police database containing the personal information of one billion citizens being leaked online in 2022. Although the new rules won't take effect until mid-July, hundreds of apps started trialling the internet ID since last year. The system was born out of a proposal by a police official early last year. Jia Xiaoliang, a cyber police deputy director in northeastern China who is also a delegate to China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, first proposed the system during the Congress' annual meeting in March 2024. As soon as the government began soliciting public comments on the proposal last July, experts and legal scholars voiced opposition. Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to "installing a surveillance device on every individual's online activity" in a post on Weibo, an X-like Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and her account was subsequently suspended from posting for three months, for "violating relevant rules." In late May, when the finalised rules were unveiled after a year, almost no criticism could be found online. Xiao explained that it's not the first time authorities have spaced out the time between a proposal and its implementation, to allow critics to "blow off steam." "It's done deliberately … Many of their measures follow the same pattern, and they've proven effective," he said. - CNN

1News

5 hours ago

• 1News

Luxon concludes China trip: 'No evidence' of collaboration with West's foes

Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his trip to China, dismissing suggestions the superpower is working with Russia, Iran or North Korea to undermine the West — as alleged by NATO's top official. The prime minister says he also stressed to China's leaders that engagement in the Pacific must advance the region's interests, but refused to say whether the recent Cook Islands crisis was raised by either side. Speaking late Friday at New Zealand's embassy in Beijing, Luxon said he was leaving "very, very convinced" the bilateral relationship was in "a really strong place and in good heart". The comments followed a day of top-level meetings at the Great Hall of the People, capping a three-day visit to China, Luxon's first as prime minister. The prime minister and his officials now fly on to Belgium and then to the Netherlands, where he will attend the annual NATO summit. Asked about NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte's recent warning that China is working together with Russia, Iran and North Korea, Luxon noted the "Dutch directness" — but indicated a "difference of opinion". ADVERTISEMENT "We haven't seen evidence of those four powers coordinating in a way, actively against the West," Luxon said. "We've seen bilateral associations, say, between Russia and North Korea, with respect to the war in Ukraine. We've seen bilateral arrangements between Iran and Russia as well, but we haven't seen evidence of a wholesale force." The rest of the delegation was now returning to New Zealand on the air force 757. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets with Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Source: 1News) Cook Islands questions linger The talks came a day after revelations New Zealand suspended nearly $20 million in funding to the Cook Islands, after its agreements with China earlier this year. Luxon repeatedly refused to say whether that issue, or any other, was discussed behind closed doors. ADVERTISEMENT "We need to respect that they are private diplomatic conversations that need to be respected in the privacy of the sanctum." The world leaders discussed a range of tricky topics, including the war in the Middle East and a suspension of funding to the Cook Islands. (Source: 1News) A media statement issued at the end of the trip said Luxon had raised "the need for engagement in the Pacific to take place in a manner which advances Pacific priorities". Pressed to clarify, Luxon said the concern had been well-canvassed: "Making sure that… all major powers that aren't part of the Pacific family… respect the centrality of the Pacific Island Forum." While none of China's leaders directly mentioned the Cook Islands crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier said China's cooperation with the Pacific nation "should not be disrupted or restrained by any third party". Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday labelled the funding pause "patronising" and pointed out he had not been consulted on any agreements New Zealand entered with China this trip. Luxon denied any double standard, but said he had "nothing more to add" on the subject. ADVERTISEMENT "I'm not going to get into it. I've spoken ad nauseam about the Cooks and the challenge." The prime minister's statement also said he raised "rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific" including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Final talks with Xi and Li Before speaking to reporters, the prime minister took part in an official welcome ceremony at the Great Hall and then a sit-down with his counterpart, Premier Li Qiang. Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Source: 1News) In opening remarks, Li spoke of global turbulence and the need for "mutually beneficial cooperation". He said he had been "deeply impressed" by Luxon's friendship and hospitality during his 2024 visit to Wellington. In response, Luxon said the international challenges made ongoing dialogue more important "even where we differ". ADVERTISEMENT The meeting ended with the signing of 11 agreements, promising cooperation in areas including customs, food safety, and tourism. Luxon — and the wider business delegation — then stayed on for a banquet dinner at the Great Hall. Earlier on Friday, Xi said the bilateral relationship had experienced "many ups and downs" but remained respectful and at the forefront of China's Western ties. Luxon meanwhile described the bilateral relationship as "long-standing" and of "great consequence" to New Zealand. "The world looks to China as a major global power to play a constructive role in addressing many of the challenges that are facing us all," he said. Speaking to RNZ before departure, Luxon said he had established "good rapport" with both leaders during their previous meetings. The prime minister last met Xi in November at the APEC summit in Peru. At the time, Luxon characterised their conversation as "warm, positive and constructive" but noted clear differences over the AUKUS defence pact and missile testing in the Pacific.

RNZ News

7 hours ago

• RNZ News

Destiny Church protesters set flags on fire in Auckland rally

Protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. Photo: RNZ Fire and Emergency crews have been called to a Destiny Church march in downtown Auckland after flags were set on fire. Hundreds have marched from Aotea Square down Queen Street in what the church billed as a rally "in defence of faith, flag and family". At one point flags - which an RNZ reporter said appeared to include rainbow flags and flags representing mainstream media - were set alight. Rally goers then put the flames out with water and arriving fire crews then left without taking action. During the march, people chanted "no immigration without assimilation". Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Church leader Brian Tamaki claimed "uncontrolled immigration" in the United Kingdom had led to spikes in crime and a collapse in British identity. Tamaki said the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christina nations". Protesters and counter-protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. Photo: RNZ The Destiny marchers were met by about 20 counterprotestors waving tino rangatiratanga and Palestine flags. A large number of Police were also in attendance. Ahead of the march, Tamaki said church leaders had sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling for a reversal on a position that the country has no official religion. He said a demand included enforcing a "no immigration without assimilation" policy. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.