Riyaz ul Khaliq
01 July 2022•Update: 02 July 2022
ISTANBUL
The New Zealand prime minister on Thursday called on democratic nations to stand firm as she accused China of becoming "more assertive" to challenge international order.
"China has in recent times also become more assertive and more willing to challenge international rules and norms," Jacinda Ardern told the NATO summit in Madrid, where the alliance, for the first time, identified Beijing as a serious challenge.
"We must stand firm on the rules-based order, call for diplomatic engagement and speak out against human rights abuses at all times when and where we see them," she added.
Coming to Russia's war on Ukraine, which began in February, Ardern said "it’s a war of Russia vs all those who hold a basic sense of humanity and chose to act on it."
Listing her country's response to the war, she said Wellington implemented "unilateral sanctions for the first time ever," provided humanitarian assistance, as well as military and non-military aid.
"We are also making significant contributions to the international legal effort to hold Russia accountable and are planning to intervene in Ukraine’s case against Russia in the International Court of Justice," Ardern said.
She said that we should not allow the legacy of the war in Ukraine "to become an arms race, or an even more polarized and dangerous world."
"Our solidarity with Ukraine must be matched by an equal commitment to strengthen international institutions, multilateral forums, and disarmament," the prime minister added.
Ardern also had a meeting on the sidelines with the leaders of Japan, South Korea and Australia – the “Asia-Pacific 4.”
According to a statement by Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the four leaders – Ardern, Japan's Kishida Fumio, Australia's Anthony Albanese, and South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol – exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the international society “from the view of the Indo-Pacific region.”
The four nations “will closely coordinate and promote their cooperation as NATO partners, making use of their respective advantages, and take the lead in deepening communication between the Indo-Pacific and NATO.”
To counter China’s increasing economic and military influence in the Asia-Pacific region, the West has launched a number of initiatives including Quad, AUKUS, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and Blue Pacific Partnership.
