Winston Peters Responds to China Defamation Threat

A war of words has erupted between a former Australian foreign minister and New Zealand’s deputy prime minister about AUKUS.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters speaks during a debate in Auckland, New Zealand, on Oct. 1, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has stood firm on his criticism of former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s stance on Beijing and the threat of a defamation lawsuit.

At the same time, he spoke out on Beijing’s human rights abuses, while acknowledging his country’s dependence on trade with China, in a speech to the NZ China Council.