The Hunt for a Witch?

Jian Yang is a New Zealand politican who has recently received a large amount of scrutiny due to the discovery that he failed to declare that he was involved in training spies as part of work he did at a university in China in a citizenship declaration. I followed this story with interest. It occurred to me as worrying and interesting to consider how much such an individual has been involved in government since becoming a citizen of New Zealand.  

Recent documents obtained by The International Column through an Official Information Act request indicate that before the arrival of State Councillor Liu Yandong on an official visit to New Zealand in 2012, Jian Yang received a briefing containing information specific to her and other Chinese officials prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The complete documents contains information about these officials that the public is not privy to according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Further statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received as part of the Official Information Act release indicated that individuals like Jian Yang are invited into involvement in official trips, in this case and in others via phone. Hence there is not a paper record of how Jian Yang became involved in several trips to China and visits to New Zealand of Chinese officials. 

Jian Yang responded to claims that his failure to be forthcoming brings his integrity into question by claiming that those who write about him are attacking him because he is Chinese. However, it is worth noting that should Jian Yang and his actions not be brought into question simple because he is of a certain ethnicity or formerly not a New Zealand citizenship is rather silly. Witch hunt or not - the public deserves the opportunity to form their conclusions of Jian Yang based on evidence.  

The World in Transition

Something interesting is currently happening on the Korean Peninsula. Firstly, with the Olympics at hand the North Koreans have been brought to the negotiating table with the interest of more then just participating. Some might claim this represents progress in relations with North Korea for the South, but those more skeptical might point to the fact that a cycle of relations has been renewed with a threatening and increasingly prerogative United States. Something else is happening in Canada at the moment and the Pacific Region in general. Finally (and without the United States) the large free trade agreement which includes most of the Asia-Pacific is now a pending reality. Final talks seem to be left to individual countries to ratify the deal. What has brought about this sudden movement? Has a President of the United States, who has brought into the question the continued existence of the North America Free Trade Agreement, provoked a quick sign? What is really interesting to consider is how the world is playing chess against the United States and weaving the fabric different from that of what the White House intended. 

Transitions often work where ideas replace each other. A classic example could be colonialism which after World War Two was time and time again unwoven as a viable way of doing things. If one wants to claim that the world is currently in transition now, one needs to do two things. State what the difference in ideas is and state how the world is crowding around the idea that will prevail and continue to shape it. Freedom of commerce has long been something important to the world. Countries developing and developed have seen great benefit as a result. Those who claim that protection of companies and commerce at home is now the agenda, fail to acknowledge that companies cannot be forced or bullied into doing what government wants. And yet, with expanding companies like Apple in the United States, and companies like Walmart delivering extra pay for their workers - one could say that 'Trumpism' is working and getting the United States somewhere. If so, do we live in a world in transition towards protectionism?

I don't think so. I think instead that the world is about to vindicate itself into a new era of commerce which the United States will eventually be forced to join but who is missing the chance to broker. The United States cannot lead the world in action, without leading the world in thought. As the United States makes vocal threats to withdraw from free trade agreements, and places tariffs on this and that, it will eventually find itself secluded as it becomes more and more like Iran and Russia in how it drives economic growth - internally and without a focus on trade. That however, isn't the idea, but the means of transition. A world where the United States shuts down the federal government whilst the New Zealanders go to space for the first time. A world where Israel is hailed as an example of secularism by the Vice President of the United States. And a world where the loss of leadership and loss of integrity entails a loss of continuity. That, is the stuff of transition.   

"Dear Prime Minister" (New Zealand)

Dear Prime Minister,

It puts a smile on my face to write to you with the starter “Dear Prime Minister”. This is the case because I know that this letter is going to be read and that you are a leader open to consider the voice of your constituents. Having said that, the aim of this letter is to commentate with relation to a number of potential problems on the horizon with the aim of helping you in the task of being Prime Minister. I don’t (and am certainly willing to start this letter by saying) that I don’t know everything.

Firstly, the government has recently introduced a hike in student allowance payments which are long overdue. However, one of the key pieces of advice given to the party opposite regarding this issue was that an increase in contributions to students would result in a hike of rents by landlords in accommodation ideal for students. I think the government of the time needs to consider this with the aim of putting money in the hands of students that cannot be handed on to landlords. Perhaps, a food voucher might be welcomed by students who struggle allocating money towards feeding themselves and already resort (in the case of Wellington) to places like the Wellington Free Store to feed themselves. It might be a little late now to put in place, but it might be worth mentioning and opening up for public debate (including students).

Recently the National Party has started advocating for their policies with relation to road building to be considered further by your government. It is a political move that your government has responded to by correctly pointing out that the New Zealand Transport Authority should and does deserve the opportunity to make its own decisions. Projects around rail are also driven with consultations of the public and supported by local councils which entails that the government doesn’t just get to decide what it wants to do. The need to respond here further I think is apparent (at least to me) and doing so might best entail stating what has been implied by current responses.

Finally, I think that the government of the day has had a neat way of setting relationships abroad on a positive foot whilst at the same time containing a lot of anti-American and potentially xenophobic sentiment flouting around at the moment. I love that the government of the time has chosen to do this without stirring the pot and making things worse. It occurred to me that there is an opportunity for New Zealand to demonstrate it is a peace maker within the world. As the United States pulls back and loses focus, New Zealand should look to step in where it can. That might include an envoy to North Korea at some point. It might also include more discussion (and groundwork) around a common area of movement and free trade between Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This week once the United States drops the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Canadians are going to be scrambling and the opportunity to catch a lucky break with a focus on just them might be practical.

I have to admit I am very excited. A little concerned hearing that the government wanted to see the certain ministries cut five percent from their current budget, and a little more concerned seeing that those who have already gone through the tertiary system are not being offered anything whilst new students get a first year free ride (on perhaps, I’ll admit, a slightly selfish note). Focus on health, education that is primary and secondary, and police. These are three areas where the Labour Party stole the conversation during the election and need to continue to make their core. Failure to do so might entail that ground gets stolen down the line by the opposition as they turn their own budget cutting into your (appeared) miss management.

All the best for the coming year