US envoy to New Zealand Tom Udall wants to find ways to cooperate with China

The 73-year-old diplomat said the US-China relationship was complex because the two countries disagree over human rights issues and compete economically

Udall also said he was eager to work with New Zealand on climate change and renewable energy issues

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Tom Udall, the new US ambassador to New Zealand at his residence in Wellington. Photo: AP

Published: 12:29pm, 2 Dec 2021

Tom Udall, the new US ambassador to New Zealand, said he wants to find areas of common ground with China in a region where tensions often run high.

Udall, a former US senator from New Mexico, held his first press conference in his new role on Thursday after presenting his credentials a day earlier.

He said the US relationship with China was complex because the two countries disagree over human rights issues and compete economically.

“But, at the same time, and this is in the vein of when Richard Nixon went to China, it’s talking about ‘How do we find things to work together on?’” Udall said. “‘How do we find ways to cooperate?’ And I believe that there’s been a big effort by our government already to work on climate change with China.”

He said one of the biggest challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region was the tension in the South China Sea, where Beijing has increased its military presence and assertiveness. He said international patrols had been welcomed by many nations.