Taiwan’s foreign minister has urged New Zealand to increase its investment in Pacific countries to reduce their dependence on China, warning of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “ambition” in the region.
“I hope New Zealand can make more investment in the Pacific countries,” Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said in an interview with New Zealand’s broadcaster TVNZ on May 7.
“If like-minded countries like New Zealand, Australia, and the United States increase their investment in the Pacific, they can help Pacific Island countries reduce their dependence on China,” he added.
The Biden administration has aimed to allocate over $7 billion for three Pacific Island nations—the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia—with which the United States has economic and defense ties….