onsdag 2. desember 2020

China Media Turns Fire on Jacinda Ardern's New Zealand Over Australia Feud

China's state-controlled media took a swipe at New Zealand on Tuesday, after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern voiced support for Australia in its latest row with China over a hawkish diplomat's controversial tweet. Communist Party newspaper Global Times noted that the PM's criticism of Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian's tweet was "restrained"—likely due to political considerations, including China's roles as New Zealand's largest trading partner.

The newspaper's views, which are best described by the government's recent "Wolf Warrior" approach to diplomacy, nonetheless lashed out at Wellington in an editorial titled: "Kiwis bleat like Aussie sheep but don't condemn Afghan killings."