New Zealand’s Ardern says differences with China becoming harder to reconcile

The comments come as New Zealand faces pressure from some elements among Western allies over its reluctance to use the Five Eyes intelligence and security alliance

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that differences between New Zealand and China are becoming harder to reconcile as Beijing’s role in the world grows and changes. In a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland, Ms. Ardern said there are things on which China and New Zealand “do not, cannot, and will not agree”, but added these differences need not define their relationship. “It will not have escaped the attention of anyone here that as China’s role in the world grows and changes, the differences between our systems – and the interests and values that shape those systems – are becoming harder to reconcile,” Ms. Ardern said.