Te Pāti Māori President John Tamihere says the Government is overreacting and can’t afford to make enemies.
Over the weekend, Chinese warships conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, which Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says happened without China informing New Zealand beforehand.
Tamihere says Aotearoa lacks the resources to defend itself and is too remote to be a target for takeover.
He says blaming China for actions that the US, France, and Britain also carry out is an overreaction by the New Zealand Government.
“Everyone does it. What are they trying to suggest that the Chinese are going to invade us? Chinese have not invaded anyone. In fact, they built a wall to keep themselves in. So I just don’t get that. And on the issue of neutrality, it’s the best possible policy setting for us,” says Tamihere.
