Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is calling for the de-escalation of “dangerous behaviour” in the South China Sea as he touches down in the Philippines.
It came just hours after the United States announced it would conduct military drills in the contested area with the South East Asian country.
Luxon, who arrived in the Philippines capital Manila this afternoon [NZT], told media he expected all countries to comply with international law as tensions in the region remained high.
It was reported earlier today the Philippines and the US had announced they would conduct military drills outside the Philippines’ territorial waters in the South China Sea for the first time, something Chinese state media has criticised as having a destructive impact on regional security.
The Philippines’ coastguard has been increasingly involved in clashes with China, particularly around the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. China claimed the South China Sea was its territory, despite a United Nations tribunal finding otherwise.
Luxon said New Zealand did not take a position on claims of the South China Sea but expected “all parties” to comply with international law.
“We are concerned about the dangerous behaviour with ships in the South China Sea in particular.”
As reported by the Guardian, the so-called “gray-zone” harassment by China has included shining military-grade lasers at the Philippine Coast Guard, firing water cannon at vessels and ramming into Philippine ships running resupply missions near the Second Thomas Shoal, which both Manila and Beijing claim. Some Filipino crew have been injured in the clashes.
“Obviously, we want to see de-escalation,” Luxon said, noting freedom of navigation was important to a small trading country like New Zealand.
Luxon said he had raised the issue with leaders of Singapore and Thailand during his trip across South East Asia and committed to doing so when he met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PM disappointed police pay offer not accepted
Luxon also commented on New Zealand police pay, saying he was “disappointed” the Government’s latest offer hadn’t been accepted and that the matter was headed for final arbitration.
Yesterday, it was announced more than 75 per cent of Police Association members voting against the Government’s offer to settle police’s pay increase.
It’s understood the overall value of the offer had increased by about $250 million in comparison to the offer made by the Labour Government last year.
Luxon said he’d thought the Government had put its “best foot forward” with the deal and had taken seriously the calls to increase the offer.
He cited how the latest offer had addressed overtime and would likely give police officers a pay increase above inflation come 2025.
Luxon appeared saddened the matter would now go to final arbitration, where either the Government’s or the Police Association’s pay proposal would be chosen and progressed.
Police Association president Chris Cahill. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Police Association president Chris Cahill said the rejection sent a clear message to the Government that the offer “falls well short of addressing officers’ concerns and very real needs”.
“Our members were looking for a sincere effort by [the] Government to correct the crippling erosion of police living standards caused by the cost-of-living crisis and to recognise the increased challenges and dangers police officers face in keeping New Zealanders safe,” Cahill said.
“This offer fails to provide any real attempt to remedy the steady decline in officers’ salaries, particularly when measured against comparable professions’ salaries, such as teachers and nurses.”
When he put the offer to police, Cahill had made it clear to members that he believed it was the best the Government would offer in funding for the pay negotiations and arbitration would be the next step if it was rejected.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said it was an “incredibly disappointing outcome” and the latest offer was “significantly better” than what was presented in August last year.
Mitchell said the new offer included the overtime rate that the Police Association had asked for, a $1500 cash payment for police and a “locked-in” pay increase in the third year, well beyond the forecast rate of inflation.
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.
