Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is preparing for his inaugural visit to China, presenting discussions with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and other leaders as a means to promote New Zealand’s interests.
However, this endeavor seems to clash with what critics describe as an increasing strategic alignment with the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Earlier this month, a group of former senior New Zealand politicians, including ex-prime ministers Helen Clark and Geoffrey Palmer, cautioned against aligning New Zealand with the US as an adversary of China, highlighting this potential cognitive dissonance.
Despite implied criticisms, Luxon maintains that the National-led coalition is dedicated to an independent foreign policy, yet the government has taken a more proactive approach on the international stage, aligning closely with the US.
Since assuming office in late 2023, the Luxon administration has celebrated shared values and interests with the Biden administration, predicting strengthened New Zealand-US relations during Trump’s current presidency.
To date, this belief remains unshaken. Even following a controversial White House meeting in February, in which Trump labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a warmonger, Luxon reaffirmed his trust in Trump, describing the US as a “reliable” partner.
Throughout April, while Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters appeared to disagree on whether Trump’s policies instigated a “trade war,” the Prime Minister dismissed the discourse as a media exaggeration.
The duo later acknowledged that New Zealand and Trump’s administration share “common strategic interests.”
The National-led government’s increasing security partnership with the US roots back to late January 2024 when New Zealand endorsed two UN resolutions calling for humanitarian ceasefires in Gaza.
However, Luxon also deployed a small Defence Force team to the Red Sea, attempting to counter attacks on shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels protesting the lack of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Additionally, Luxon’s government has shown enthusiasm to engage with the “pillar two” of the AUKUS security pact, viewing it as supportive of New Zealand’s national security and foreign policy frameworks.
In the first half of 2025, New Zealand joined a network of US-led strategic initiatives, such as the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience, focusing on defence supply chain coordination, and Operation Olympic Defender, which addresses warfare in space—a key area for a relatively new space actor like New Zealand.
New Zealand also participated in Project Overmatch, which seeks to revolutionize naval warfare through cutting-edge digital technology cooperation, and agreed to a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines, a US ally engaged in disputes with China over territorial claims in the contentious South China Sea.
Historically, overlapping concerns about China’s assertiveness have united New Zealand governments and US administrations.
The previous Labour-led government, under Jacinda Ardern, identified China as a threat to the international rules-based order in its 2018 defence policy statement, condemning the 2022 Solomon Islands-China security pact.
Her successor, Chris Hipkins, continued this trend by releasing extensive national security documentation confirming escalating perceptions of China as a threat.
The current administration has similarly criticized China’s comprehensive strategic partnership with the Cook Islands—part of New Zealand’s realm—and expressed worry over China’s military maneuvers in the Tasman Sea.
However, the US’s apprehensions regarding China differ from those of New Zealand.
Since the Obama presidency, US administrations have viewed China as the greatest threat to America’s global dominance.
Unlike previous administrations that framed their concerns around multilateral alliances and an international consensus, Trump’s administration markedly departs from these norms.
Trump’s actions, such as proposed instead of supporting peace talks in key global conflicts, suggest a disregard for international law and norms, raising questions about how closely New Zealand should align with such a stance.
Actions like Trump’s imposition of tariffs and withdrawal from international agreements run counter to New Zealand’s commitment to free trade and a respected global order.
Moreover, Trump’s reluctance to confront the humanitarian impact of his policies, particularly regarding Israel and Iran, starkly contrasts with New Zealand’s foreign policy values.
As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult for Luxon’s government to genuinely argue for shared values with Trump’s administration, particularly in balancing China’s assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific.
Instead, a preferable approach for New Zealand would be to reaffirm its partnership with the US while making it clear that it will not do so at the expense of its long-standing dedication to democratic principles and human rights.
In light of this complex diplomatic landscape, a friendly reminder to Luxon’s counterparts in China may be warranted: New Zealand remains an independent nation committed to its democratic values and humanitarian responsibilities.
image source from：https://theconversation.com/as-luxon-heads-to-china-his-governments-pivot-toward-the-us-is-a-stumbling-block-259129
