Maybe. The UK is doing damage control and playing this down already.
Intelligence sources in the UK insisted they were not concerned by comments made by Nanaia Mahuta. Sources suggested there was a difference of opinion on a specific issue over the issuing of joint statements on China but stressed this was not “a fracturing of the relationship” of the Five Eyes alliance.
Maybe they are looking to form a new alliance (after being scretly booted out possibly?) which Jacinda Arden seems to be hinting at here: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ardern-say-nz-should-raise-global-concerns-appropriate-platform-following-mahuta-s-comments-five-eyes
Or maybe they are just scared of China after they issued this threat
In November, China issued a warning to "beware of their eyes being poked and blinded" after New Zealand along with its Five Eyes partners issued a statement reiterating "serious concern regarding China’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong". https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ardern-say-nz-should-raise-global-concerns-appropriate-platform-following-mahuta-s-comments-five-eyes
All I know, this is definitely something to keep eyes on.
Maybe. The UK is doing damage control and playing this down already.
Intelligence sources in the UK insisted they were not concerned by comments made by Nanaia Mahuta, who was appointed New Zealand’s foreign minister following Jacinda Ardern’s re-election last year. Sources suggested there was a difference of opinion on a specific issue over the issuing of joint statements on China but stressed this was not “a fracturing of the relationship” of the Five Eyes alliance.
All I know right now, this is definitely something to keep an eye on.
Might be the casee. The UK is doing damage control and playing this down already.
Intelligence sources in the UK insisted they were not concerned by comments made by Nanaia Mahuta, who was appointed New Zealand’s foreign minister following Jacinda Ardern’s re-election last year. Sources suggested there was a difference of opinion on a specific issue over the issuing of joint statements on China but stressed this was not “a fracturing of the relationship” of the Five Eyes alliance.
All I know right now this is definitely something to keep an eye on.