Why the China Aid with the China Trade?
MEDIA RELEASE
Why the China Aid with the China Trade?
27 JUNE 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is today welcoming the announcement by the Government that New Zealand’s two-way trade with the Peoples’ Republic of China has exceeded $20 billion on an annual basis for the first time. However, the Union says this raises the questions of whether New Zealand should continue to send aid to China.
Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says documents obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the last two financial years for which data is available, show New Zealand taxpayers sent over $2.6 million in aid to China.
“China is the world’s second largest economy, yet unbeknown to many New Zealand taxpayers, we hand over millions of dollars of money that could be used in other areas.”
Mr Williams says China’s booming economy and its efforts to use aid for influence in the Pacific should cause the Government to reconsider its priorities.
“China’s own aid programme is used to spread the country’s influence, especially amongst our Pacific neighbours. If China is able to provide aid to much of the developing world, why are Kiwi taxpayers still sending money there?”
“Aid money would be better spent assisting our Pacific neighbours,” suggests Williams.
Documents obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are available on request.
ENDS