Govt’s defence comments on China a new path - David Capie

A Victoria University strategic analyst says New Zealand has taken a new path by sounding a note of alarm about China's role in the Asia-Pacific region. The government's Strategic Defence Policy Statement, launched on Friday by Defence Minister Ron Mark, used unusually frank language about China's actions. And Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters says the Chinese have responded by expressing concern over the paper, both through its ambassador in Wellington and New Zealand's ambassador in Beijing. Dr David Capie is director of the Centre for Strategic Studies. "We're not saying China's a threat... We're saying it's doing some things around the region we have some concerns about... I think the government has felt our public statements have got too far out of sync," Dr Capie says.