What Ardern will and won’t discuss with Xi Jinping

Ardern won’t say anything privately to Xi that she hasn’t already said publicly which means China’s Covid-Zero approach will be off the table but the country’s stance on the Ukraine war may be raised, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday morning, sign up here.

Xi publicly rebukes Canadian prime minister

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping tonight (NZT). Ardern travelled to Thailand yesterday where the APEC leaders’ summit will kick off. As Claire Trevett writes (paywalled), Xi’s public rebuke of Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau yesterday provided a lesson in how Xi can react if he feels he has been ambushed or pushed too hard. In a clip recorded by the media pool at the G20 summit in Indonesia, Xi pulled Trudeau aside and said it was “not appropriate” for details about a previous conversation between the two leaders to have been shared with media, suggesting Trudeau lacked “sincerity” in his approach.

Quiet, mature, circumspect dialogue expected between Ardern and Xi

Trevett notes previous comments from Ardern that suggest the prime minister will be more circumspect in her approach to the meeting. Ahead of arriving in Bangkok, Ardern described the New Zealand relationship with China as “mature”. Ardern has said she won’t say anything privately to Xi that she hasn’t already said publicly. That means trade, the Pacific and perhaps the condemnation of the treatment of Uyghur people in the Xinjiang province. As Newsroom’s Jo Moir writes, China’s Covid-Zero approach and its impact on the global economy, is regarded strictly as a domestic issue for China by Ardern.

Ardern may raise the war in Ukraine with Xi

As it has dominated the G20 talks in Bali, Russia and its ongoing war against Ukraine will dominate the APEC agenda. Fantastic “today in history” photo of world leaders talking about the missile strike in Poland here. Ardern may raise the war with Xi. There’s been some hope that having Xi at the G20 and APEC summits might further tilt China’s stance on war away from its previously expressed support of Russia. French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said he believes Xi can play a mediating role that prevents a resumption of large-scale land fighting in Ukraine. Ardern says she believes the facetime Xi has had with leaders will ease rising global tensions.

Warning to New Zealand on Taiwan

Closer to home, the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, addressed the NZ Institute of International Affairs on Monday. As Newsroom’s Sam Sachdeva writes, the warning around any challenge to his country’s stance on Taiwan was clear. “There is no red line redder than the Taiwan question,” he said. Wang said “The complete reunification of the motherland” was essential for China’s rejuvenation. Wang emphasised that “constructive dialogue rather than megaphone diplomacy” was required when managing differences. Ardern will continue to take that approach when she meets Xi tonight.