Jason Young: NZ Contemporary China Research Centre Director on the reaction to the Chinese research vessel in our waters

The view of a Chinese vessel in our waters highlights our complicated relationship with the country. 

The visit has been approved by the New Zealand Government, as part of a NIWA research project.  

Although its movements have been approved, Australia is not the biggest fan, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying he would prefer it wasn’t off Victoria’s coast. 

NZ Contemporary China Research Centre Director Jason Young told Mike Hosking we have a complicated relationship. 

He says that while New Zealand does have a very important trading relationship with China, some of their actions in the Pacific go against our interests. 

Young says both Australia and New Zealand need to be able to manage those areas of difference, while maininting the positive aspects of the relationship.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I've got a bit more China boat anks. We've got
this research ship. You will have seen. It's been approved
by the government. It's part of a neewear research project.
It's raised moderate interest here, but in Australia, of course
they got election vibes at the moment that Albanezey said
he would prefer it wasn't of Victoria's coast. The director
of New zealand Contemporary China Research Center, Jason Young, is well,
it's Jason, very good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
So we've got two things going on. The flotilla was different.
Live firing is different. This is just a research ship.
Is this like perfectly normal and we shouldn't even be
talking about this? Or could there be something to it?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I guess that's the big question, right. So it's
a research ship, it's approved, it's an international group, but
it's obviously funded by China, and so for me, it
raises the question of why people are so interested, and
it shows that there's a heightened level of strategic distrust. Yeah,
particularly in Australia, but also in New Zealand. Sort of

(00:53):
questioning these types of activities.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Is my assessment, right, it's heightened in Australia because of
course I've got an election campaign on Well.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
I think whenever there's an election, and if China becomes
an issue in an election, then both alban EASi and
the opposition leader doesn't will be wanting to appeal to
audiences that want to show that Australia is standing up
for its interests and protecting Australia. So once it becomes
an election issue, then I think, yeah, it changes the debate.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Fascinating thing for me is we're trying to doubt out
being the largest trading partner, and we love their money
and we love selling them stuff, but we don't like
them all of a sudden and our attitude to them
has changed. How do you square that circle?

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, I think that's perhaps a little bit over a
simplified view of New Zealand's relationship with China. I guess
it's complicated in the sense that, yes, New Zealand has
a very important trading relationship with China. China is a
very important actor, but some of the activities that it
does in the international system go against our interests. Some

(01:55):
of it go against our direct interests, and it's a
way New Zealand And Australia. Both need to be able
to manage those areas of difference whilst maintaining those positive
aspects of the relationship.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Jason, appreciate your expertise, Jason Young, New Zealand Contemporary China
research seems a director for more from the My Asking
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