New Zealand's China problem

Relax, New Zealand. You might be in China's pocket, but much of the US is, too.

One thing my old Kiwi buddy John said was that you can consider New Zealand "an Asian country." The above video notes that China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, which puts it in exactly the same position as South Korea, for whom China is also the largest trading partner. South Korea, too, has trouble standing up to China. There's more anti-Chinese sentiment when there's a conservative administration in power, but even Korean conservatives don't say much against their perceived benefactor. Expat commentators often bitterly complain that Korea never stopped being a Chinese vassal state. On this blog, I have long contended that Korea would be better off having the US as its largest trading partner, and I think the same is true of "Asian country" New Zealand: it should partner with the US. Alas, as the above video notes, New Zealand seems almost proud not to have any special arrangements in place with the US. I suspect this is part of a long history of defiance: years ago, New Zealand said no to allowing a US naval base on its territory because US warships are nuclear-powered, and New Zealand is a no-nukes country (as the slogan goes, Every day in New Zealand dawns new, clear, free—get it?). Well, if New Zealand wants to be intransigent against the US, that's its affair. But partnering up with China is simply a mistake. New Zealand should look at what's happening in Africa, Sri Lanka, and other areas that have made devil's bargains with China. That's what's in store: an extremely unhappy future.