The Prime Minister is calling for continued peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific in the wake of fiery comments by the United States and China over the defence of Taiwan.
"When it comes to some of the language we've heard in the discussion between the United States and China, I will continue to advocate on New Zealand's behalf for peace and stability in our region and de-escalation."
She's said "there is tension in our region" and described the Pacific as "contested".
Jacinda Ardern is currently in New York to promote New Zealand as it reopens its borders with the world. She spent the morning meeting with business leaders, the editors of tourism publications and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres.
Speaking to reporters moments after that latter meeting, Ardern said the pair discussed the conflict in Ukraine, climate change and the role New Zealand can play in UN reform, something being raised again after Russia used its veto powers to stymie resolutions relating to its invasion of Ukraine.
She was asked if the escalating tensions between China and the United States were brought up.
"What we see, separately, any reflection on the relationship between China and the United States, whilst ultimately that is a matter for them, what we will continue to advocate is for peace and stability in our region and including in any discussions around increasing tensions around Taiwan."
The matter spins out of comments made by US President Joe Biden while he was in Japan on Tuesday. He said his nation would be willing to intervene militarily to defend Taiwan, the self-ruled island China lays claim to, if Beijing ordered an invasion. The US has long committed to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, but has been less clear about whether it would actually intervene with force should it be attacked.
"Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?" Biden was asked by media. "Yes," the President replied. "That's the commitment we made."
The White House later walked that back, saying the US policy has not changed and Biden was reiterating it would provide Taiwan with defensive means.
But China reacted with fire, saying Taiwan "is an inalienable part of China's territory" and that it would take "firm actions" to safeguard the country's sovereignty.
"Recent US moves on Taiwan challenge the one-China principle and escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. This is no different from playing with fire, which is very dangerous."
Ardern said on Wednesday that New Zealand's independent foreign policy means it's been "very consistent" in advocating for "peace, stability, the use of dialogue, and the importance of multilateral institutions".
"There is tension in our region. We have, over various periods of time, seen escalation in language. We will constantly call on New Zealand's behalf and others for peace and stability in our region, and that's for all parties."
Asked about the Chinese Foreign Minister's planned tour of Pacific nations, Ardern said it wasn't a surprise and that the United States has also shown recently that it is "seeking to engage with the Pacific".
"It is a contested region. From our perspective, we will be consistent, regardless of who is in our region and engaging with the members of it, that as long as those values of transparency, openness and peace and stability are at the heart of that activity, that is what we are advocates for. We will constantly seek for that de-escalation."
New Zealand has been one of a number of countries to condemn the Solomon Islands for signing a security cooperation agreement with China. The Government says the Solomons should have looked for assistance from within the Pacific and has raised concerns about the potential for the region to be militarised.
The security deal hasn't been released publicly, but a leaked draft version suggested China could be able to establish a naval base in the Solomons. The local government has since denied that will happen, an assurance New Zealand's Government has taken at "face value".
On Monday, former Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand and like-minded countries needed to pump more resources into the Pacific to counter China's influence.
