Transcription
This week, we're witnessing a diplomatic meltdown in the South Pacific that has left political commentators stunned and a major trading relationship hanging by a thread. My home country, New Zealand, a nation that usually prides itself on quiet, professional diplomacy, has been rocked by a scandal involving its own foreign minister, Winston Peters. In a moment of pure parliamentary vitriol, Peters told a Chinese-born member of parliament to go back to your own country. It's a remark that didn't just stay within the debating chamber. It reached all the way to Beijing. China's ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Shaolong, took a rare step of publicly calling out the minister on social media before his embassy escalated the matter to a formal international incident by lodging a complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The fallout has been so significant that Beijing's foreign ministry spokesperson Maing was forced to address the negative remarks during a daily briefing. Back in New Zealand, the pressure is mounting with former prime ministers and community leaders alike calling for Peters to be sacked as a foreign minister who quite frankly doesn't seem to like foreigners very much. But despite the international uproar and accusations of blatant racism, I'll explain why I don't think Peters is going anywhere. This is reports on China. I'm Andy Borham here in Shanghai. Let's get reporting.
Before we dive in, just a quick note that the first episode of my new Shing Jang series, debunking Western media lies about the region, went live last night. Let's take a quick look at a teaser and then you can watch the video after this one. Exactly 5 years ago, I visited Shinjang to make two short travel videos. Half a decade later, I'm visiting Qashqar and Urumchi again to see how things have changed. I found myself blocked from filming mosques, met kids forced to learn another language, encountered citizens working for much less than a fair wage, and so much more. The Western media has led the world to believe that Shinjang people are the victims of genocide, forced into slave labor, banned from celebrating their religion, and forced to stop speaking their own language. But trust me, it's exactly the opposite of what you imagine. My name is Andy, a New Zealander who's lived in China for more than 10 years. Come with me as I explore two of Shing Jang's most famous cities for the second time. The link to the first episode filmed in Qashqar will be underneath this video.
During a heated debate regarding New Zealand's response to the CO9 pandemic, Green Party MP Lawrence Shunan, who was born in Tenzin but has lived in New Zealand since the mid 1990s, asked the foreign minister a simple question. Are you vaccinated? Instead of a policy answer, Peter's launched into a terade that has been described as inappropriate and attentionseeking. Before I break down the reaction, let's take a quick look at a clip of the exchange in the house.
>> I know this came here 5 minutes ago. Go back to your own. That's where they lie like a flatfish, but they don't lie like how here. All right, come to this is called This is called democracy. This is called democracy, unlike what you're used to. So, go back to where you come from, you loud mouth. >> Wow.
Peters didn't just stop at telling a citizen to leave. He explicitly attacked the political system of Shunan's birth country, claiming this is called a democracy unlike what you're used to. Shunan later described the experience as unbelievable, accusing the foreign minister of scapegoating migrant communities to distract from the government's own failings. And this is where it gets really interesting for those of us who follow Chinese diplomacy. It is incredibly rare for a Chinese ambassador to comment on the domestic political squables of their host country. But Ambassador Wang Shaolong clearly felt a line had been crossed. Under the headline, China's ambassador weighs in as Peters tells MP to go back to your own country. The New Zealand Herald reported on his rare intervention. China's ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Shaolong, noted the comments in a social media post today, saying, "The statement says more about the person that makes it than anything or anybody else." The initial expost was just the beginning. The embassy followed up with a solemn representation to New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In diplomatic terms, this is an escalation. Euro News covered this development under the headline, "China lodges complaint after New Zealand foreign minister tells MP to go back to your own country." The Chinese embassy in Wellington said on Thursday it had lodged a complaint with New Zealand's foreign ministry over what it described as negative China related remarks made by a certain politician.
Peters has refused to back down, arguing his comments were a defense of democratic freedoms. The media coverage in New Zealand has been extensive and for the most part the press is siding with the ambassador's critique of the behavior if not the political system he represents. Peter's true to form hasn't retreated an itch. He hit back on social media claiming the ambassador's reaction actually proved the point he was making. He even went as far as to label those offended as pearl clutches and communist shills. The spin-off took the temperature of the country's political elite in an article titled, "How do you solve a problem like Winston Peters?" Fine political minds offer Luxen advice. Now, Luxen is the prime minister of New Zealand. Now, former Prime Minister Helen Clark was particularly blunt about the damage being done. I think Winston Peters and New Zealand First have been inviting a sacking for some time. Their statements on a whole range of issues have become more and more shrill. She says the implications are obvious for cohesion in New Zealand society. It will send a chill through New Zealand's migrant communities and the foreign policy impact is that the New Zealand foreign minister has accused China of lying like a flat fish. Another contributor to the piece, Mike Monroe, former chief of staff to Jinder Adun, echoed the call for dismissal. I think the prime minister should sack him, Monroe says, based on the deeply offensive and racist nature of it. Winston Peters is our chief diplomat. He leads foreign affairs. To come out with a statement like this shows his unfitness for the office.
The scandal eventually reached the podium in Beijing. While the Chinese embassy in Wellington was dealing with the specifics, foreign ministry spokesperson Maling had to provide the broader state view under the headline China calls for respect after New Zealand foreign minister Tate. China Daily quoted her official remarks. China always believes that it is important to respect the development paths and systems chosen by the people of every country and opposes any form of discrimination and prejudice. Ma said China called on relevant people in New Zealand not to make China an issue for domestic political purposes and to do more things that are conducive to bilateral friendship. Now, by calling Peters a relevant individual rather than using his title, Beijing is effectively snubbing his status while making it clear they're watching the domestic culture wars he is trying to ignite. So, with the media, former prime ministers, and New Zealand's largest trading partner, all expressing outrage, why do I think that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will refuse to sack Winston Peters? Well, it comes down to the cold, hard political math. New Zealand has an election coming up this November, and Winston Peters party, New Zealand First, is a crucial part of the governing coalition. As political mind Ben Thomas noted in the spin-off, Luxon has ramped up his rhetoric in terms of criticizing his comments, but going further is intolerable for both parties. Sacking him would rapidly lead to the end of the government which would not be in the interests of the National Party. Peters has played the role of kingmaker for decades in New Zealand and he knows that Prime Minister Luxon needs him to stay in power. If Luxen sacks him now, the coalition collapses and they face a snap election that could see the government tossed out. On top of that, I seriously doubt Peters is even worried about this uproar because it plays directly to his base, older voters who are often susceptible to rhetoric that targets immigrants and foreign influence. For Peters, being cancelled by the Chinese embassy and liberal media is actually a badge of honor he can use on the campaign trail. My verdict, Peters will not be sacked as Minister of Foreign Affairs. So New Zealand has a foreign minister who has traded diplomacy for populist outbursts, causing a genuine international rift with New Zealand's most important economic partner. While the Chinese community in Oakland says it hurts us, and leaders call for accountability, the political reality of a looming election means Peters likely holds all the cards. Luxon has called the comments inappropriate, but I doubt it will go much further than that. As always, Peter's remains the kingmaker.
And on that note, that will be all for today, you guys. But as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you believe a foreign minister should be allowed to keep their job after telling a fellow law maker to go back to their own country? And is this a calculated political strategy by Peters, or did he simply let his temper get the better of him? Do let me know down below. And don't forget to hit like and subscribe if you haven't already. Really does help the channel. I'll see you all next time. Bye-bye.