Analysis: Christopher Luxon can chalk up his first trip as Prime Minister to Japan as an overall success, but it’s clear he needs to be more polished on domestic diplomacy, writes 1News Political Editor Maiki Sherman.
Significant announcements were made during Luxon's time in Tokyo, including an important milestone in the New Zealand security strategy, while one of the most high-powered trade delegations seen in some time accompanied him on the trip.
But instead of focusing on all of that, much of the media attention was diverted towards futile debate over the Prime Minister labelling previous trade delegations as the "C-list".
It was an unnecessary distraction, and Luxon only has himself to blame for it.
His comments were a low blow, pure and simple, akin to schoolyard name-calling and certainly not the type of critique expected from a prime minister.
Criticising business audience
The irony is that Luxon is criticising the same business audience his Government has been so intently focused on courting in its first months in power.
There is no denying that a hierarchy exists in all sectors and industries.
Luxon, being a former chief executive, knows that, but in New Zealand there is a belief that every level and every person adds value.
Referring to previous Labour business delegations as a "watered down" version of those Luxon once attended as Air NZ CEO under former prime minister Sir John Key simply risks making him look like an overinflated elitist.
His advisers may be mindful their leader’s latest sting follows previous commentary of Luxon bagging New Zealand businesses as "soft" while also on the global stage.
A friend at home but a foe abroad is not a reputation the Prime Minister wants to create for himself to one of his most important audiences — business.
As a journalist, it was frustrating to be standing in media conferences in Japan as the C-list interrogation drowned out the more substantive issues in the region.
If it were equally as frustrating for the man himself, Luxon may want to brush up on his domestic diplomacy by taking on the old advice: "if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it."
NZ's security moves
New Zealand, for the first time, will be sending navy ships to support Japan’s efforts in enforcing United Nations sanctions monitoring against North Korea.
The move came on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, where he was warmly greeted by North Korean President Kim Jong Un.
The two cut a formidable duo as the fanfare and red carpet set the scene for what could well be looked back on in the future as a defining moment in geopolitics.
At the same time, New Zealand was standing alongside Japan, pledging greater defence support in the Indo-Pacific region.
As well as naval assets making their debut into the foray, New Zealand’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft would also step up the frequency of surveillance in the Korean Peninsula.
The fleet will help with surveillance efforts of "provocative actions" by the East Asian nation which are said to directly contravene UN Security Council sanctions.
North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles were strongly condemned by Luxon and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida following their bilateral meeting this week.
The leaders also condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Top-level tech deals
It was a meaty debut for Luxon in the region.
That was coupled with a top-level signing between Rocket Lab and Japan’s Synspective to launch 10 new rockets carrying satellites into orbit.
Rocket Lab’s Sir Peter Beck was part of the trade delegation, with the deal becoming the largest in history for New Zealand’s resident space headquarters.
It would help, among other things, detect illegal logging and fishing, and provide persistent monitoring of maritime traffic, border activities, and other potential security threats.
It is the type of data both the Japanese and New Zealand governments would be interested in.
Intelligence sharing was certainly a theme of the whirlwind trip to Tokyo.
Following a 45-minute meeting behind closed doors, Prime Ministers Kishida and Luxon announced the two nations had agreed in principle to an Information Security Agreement.
It allowed for classified intelligence sharing between the two countries.
The agreement began under the previous Labour government, though would likely have occurred, and equally concluded, regardless of which party was in power at the time.
Observing the body language between Kishida and Luxon, it was clear Japan appreciated New Zealand’s increased military and cooperation efforts.
Tension in Indo-Pacific
Growing tension in the Indo-Pacific region shows no signs of simmering down. In fact, quite the opposite is true.
Having strategic partners was acknowledged as being important now more than ever.
In a keynote speech during the trip, Luxon also singled out China’s aggression in the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea.
But rhetoric is as far as he went, ruling out for now any notion of imposing sanctions on China. The consideration for not doing so could be argued as singular – trade.
New Zealand’s over-reliance on our largest export partner means the country is vulnerable to any swift repercussions that sanctions may provoke.
At the same time, it’s becoming clear New Zealand’s ability to remain passive in its judgement will eventually come to an end.
As tensions grow and provocation becomes a reality, Luxon and his coalition partners may yet have some tough decisions to make.
For now though, the focus is firmly on strengthening strategic partnerships as key players of the coalition Government continue to run it hard on the international circuit as part of its foreign policy reset.
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