New Zealand urges to avoid “militarization” in the Pacific amid rising tensions | World | D.W.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden on Wednesday (05.25.2022) urged the United States to refrain from “militarizing” the Pacific, amid mounting tensions with the United States and other countries in response to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit.

“There is a tension in our region and we have been hearing an increase in language for some time now.

Arden’s visit to North America, which promotes various means and agreements to balance Beijing’s expansion of political and economic influence in the Pacific, coincides with Wang’s visit to several island nations in the region.

The Chinese foreign minister will visit the Solomon Islands, with whom Beijing reached a controversial security agreement in April, which sparked warnings that he will meet with Solomon Islands President Manasseh Chowk on Thursday.

Wang’s tour continues in seven other Pacific countries: Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

He was not only concerned about the Chinese foreign minister’s visit to New Zealand’s neighbors, but also stressed the “motives” surrounding the visit.

“We want cooperation in areas where we share concerns, issues such as climate adaptation and mitigation, investment and quality infrastructure. We do not want militarization and escalating tensions,” the New Zealand president said. New Zealand.

gs (ef, NZ Herald, RNZ)