Peters Winston: Motions — Tibet—Protests 
Peters Winston: Motions — Tibet—Protests 
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Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 The Prime Minister has clearly set out New Zealand’s position on the emerging situation in Tibet. This is the worst unrest in that region in over 20 years and we have serious concerns about reports of violence looting and loss of life in Tibet. We are concerned that there have also been disturbances in other parts of China. It is imperative for the violence to stop; then it will be possible to find ways to manage and resolve the situation. We have urged China to demonstrate restraint and due care in its handling of the evolving situation in Tibet. Information on what has happened and why is still coming to hand. There are limited sources of information about the situation on the ground. We want to continue to engage China on this front as well as to hear from others about developments. 
We have let China know of our concerns through diplomatic channels and this dialogue will continue. New Zealand is a country that has long engaged China on the question of Tibet. We shared the concerns of the international community about events surrounding the 1959 uprising and its management. We have referred to Tibet many times over the years in United Nations processes and we have directly engaged China on the Tibet issue through bilateral channels since we established relations in 1972. We have long called for dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the representatives of the Tibetan people to discuss the problems of Tibet. Such dialogue is the best way to try to find an acceptable and lasting way forward. 
The Dalai Lama has visited this country four times and in his capacity as a spiritual leader he has met parliamentary figures here. My predecessor met him; I myself have met him. As I have told my Chinese counterpart as a Westminster democracy we do take the opportunity of people visiting our shores to meet them to hear their perspectives and to share our own. We know that China is sensitive about the Tibet issue; we listen to the Chinese perspectives just as we listen to other points of view. The consistent approach of successive Governments has been to take an interest in developments in Tibet and to engage the Chinese on this issue and the human rights situation there. 
We know there are a few New Zealanders in Tibet and we are pleased that they are safe and making plans to leave the region. We hope their departure will be smooth and safe. 
Some people have been calling for the Government to abandon its wish to sign a free-trade agreement with China because of the developments in Tibet. That is a matter for the Minister of Trade and for the Government to address. It is a case that economically speaking is for the proponents of such a free-trade agreement to make out but a unilateral trade boycott of China would be futile and not help any people. Political posturing over human rights issues would be no more sensible than past examples such as rushing to judgment in the 1980s only to have to rue such rash behaviour in the following years. I have to say that unilaterally abandoning trade and commerce with China over the Tibet issue will not advance New Zealand’s interests. We would lose our standing in that important and growing market at a time when there are growing concerns about the world economy. Any opportunities we forgo will be quickly taken up by others in our place. 
So let us talk with China about the situation let us get the facts let us register our concerns—as we have been doing—and let us contribute through our dialogue and good sense to efforts that might have a real chance of bringing about a resolution rather than our placating our temporary social consciences.