China has effectively told New Zealand to butt out of the dispute in the South China Sea after an innocuous speech by Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee calling on all parties to reduce tensions. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei all have claims to parts of the South China Seas which is largely claimed by China. And he said the ruling should be used as a basis for the parties to work together. "We do not take a position on the various claims in the South China Sea. Brownlee said New Zealand and China had a very close relationship and that New Zealand consistently "welcomed the rise of a prosperous, peaceful China on the world stage."

Source: New Zealand Herald October 11, 2016 07:41 UTC