More needs to be done to meet Pacific Island nations’ needs if New Zealand is to help those countries resist China’s authoritarian ideas, Professor Robert Patman says. Speaking to Global Insight, the foreign affairs specialist said leaders of Pacific Island states probably viewed attention from China as an opportunity to get extra help. ‘‘The United States, New Zealand and Australia have largely had the Pacific Island states to themselves for much of the post-1945 period,’’ Prof Patman says. New Zealand has itself played this leverage game, Prof Patman says. ‘‘If we are going to help the Pacific Island states resist Chinese authoritarian ideas, via their economic aid, we need to give them more choices on the ground,’’ Prof Patman says.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 02, 2022 08:27 UTC