Defending Diplomatic Engagement: Why Helen Clark & John Key Were Right to Attend Beijing’s WWII Anniversary
By Lucas Fernandez, World-Today-News.com – september 6, 2024
The recent visit by former New zealand Prime Ministers helen Clark and John Key to Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II has sparked considerable debate. While criticism, often centering on the presence of figures like Vladimir Putin and kim Jong Un, is understandable, the objections fundamentally miss the mark. Their attendance was a justifiable act of diplomatic respect and a recognition of China‘s pivotal role in the Allied victory – a role frequently enough downplayed in Western narratives.
The core of the criticism revolves around the company China keeps. Though, to hold Clark and Key accountable for the guest list of a Chinese national commemoration is a flawed argument.Just weeks prior, Vladimir Putin received a full-honors welcome in the United States, complete with a military flyover. To demand a different standard for New Zealand’s former leaders is hypocritical and ignores the realities of international diplomacy. Engagement doesn’t equate to endorsement.
Furthermore, dismissing the anniversary itself, as some have done by claiming China’s contribution to Japan’s defeat was minimal, demonstrates a profound historical ignorance.Estimates suggest over 20 million Chinese citizens perished during the war following Japan’s 1937 invasion - a staggering figure that dwarfs the approximately 160,000 American lives lost in the Pacific theater. Crucially, Japan deployed over a million troops in China, diverting vital resources and manpower away from other fronts, directly impacting the war’s trajectory.
While the debate over which Chinese forces – the Communists or the Nationalists – bore the brunt of the fighting is valid, the fact remains that the Chinese people endured immense suffering and played a critical role in tying down Japanese forces. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the Chinese government should lead the commemoration of this pivotal moment in history.
Some argue that attending the event legitimizes the current Chinese regime. This argument, to, falls flat. Current Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently concluded a state visit to Beijing, meeting with President Xi Jinping, as have his predecessors. New Zealand maintains diplomatic relations with China, and engagement is a necessary component of that relationship.
Indeed, New Zealand has a long-standing policy of supporting overseas trips for the Leader of the Opposition, recognizing the importance of building international relationships irrespective of which party is in power. As a former Leader of the Opposition myself, I prioritized visits to Washington, London, Beijing, and Canberra, recognizing even then – between 2003 and 2006 – the growing importance of China to New Zealand’s future.
While New Zealand was represented at the event by an embassy official, a higher-level delegation would have been more fitting. Clark and Key’s presence,as respected former leaders,offered a valuable possibility to demonstrate respect for a nation that suffered immensely during WWII and contributed considerably to the Allied victory.
Dismissing this historical significance based on political discomfort is short-sighted and ultimately detrimental to New Zealand’s long-term interests.Diplomatic engagement, even with nations we disagree with, is not a sign of weakness, but a cornerstone of responsible international relations.
Keywords: new Zealand,China,WWII,Helen Clark,John Key,Vladimir Putin,Kim Jong Un,Diplomacy,international Relations,History,Pacific War,Xi Jinping,Christopher luxon.