Part 4/8:
Patel's comments specifically pointed to the Chinese navy’s activities, including naval exercises in the Tasman Sea, and China's ballistic missile tests in the Pacific—tests capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These actions serve as demonstrations of power amidst China's expanding regional footprint. For example, last year, China signed a deal with the Cook Islands involving resource exploration, bypassing New Zealand’s traditional foreign policy channels, which drew diplomatic tension and New Zealand's subsequent financial restrictions on the island.