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Otago professor: New Zealand may be let off the hook with Beijing

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 10 Dec 2021, 8:21AM
(Photo / Getty Images)
(Photo / Getty Images)

Otago professor: New Zealand may be let off the hook with Beijing

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 10 Dec 2021, 8:21AM

Doubt we'll face China's wrath over our decision not to send diplomats to the Beijing Winter Olympics, but anything could happen. 

The United States, Australia, Britain and Canada are staging a diplomatic boycott of the games, because of China's human rights record. 

China's warning the US will pay. 

Sports Minister Grant Robertson says our ministers aren't being sent, mainly because of Covid-19, but Trade Minister Damien O'Connor says it's because we need to stand up and make points. 

Otago University Professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking he thinks New Zealand will be let off the hook, but no one knows. 

“There are rumours of a considerable power struggle going on at the moment in Beijing, so with an authoritarian power I think you can’t rule out the possibility of some unpredictability at some point.” 

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