Critics are jumping to use the recent crackdown in Tibet to further oppose New Zealand's free trade agreement due to be signed within a month.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is determined trade plans will not be derailed by the Tibetan crisis. She said on national radio that New Zealand would not halt or change plans to have a free trade deal, even if it was learned the Chinese regime had been heavy-handed in Tibet.
"I think that would be ridiculous," she said.
She said she has raised issues around human rights and of Tibet with China over many years and that is not going to change.
Trade Minister Phil Goff said "the [Tibet] issue is being dealt with separately from trade negotiations with China."
National's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Murray McCully said the National Party would continue support the free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
United Future leader Peter Dunne said he didn't think the recent events in Tibet will affect the trade deal.
"I think the two are separate, but I do think New Zealand should be making the strongest possible protest to China."
Mr Dunne said that while he supports the FTA, he also believes New Zealand should be using its relationship with China to speak out about China's human rights abuses.
Russel Norman, Green Party co-leader and spokesperson on trade said the crackdown in Tibet is unlikely to make a difference to trade dealings with China. "Labour, National and United Future care more for trade deals than human rights. So they will continue to support the preferential trade deal with China."
Mr Norman said the Greens do not support the FTA with China.
"We don't support this deal. It is unethical to give a preferential trade deal to an undemocratic authoritarian regime that is breaching labour rights, environmental standards and human rights. We support fair trade not preferential trade with corporations in China that don't have to meet basic labour and environmental standards."
Friends of Tibet New Zealand spokesperson Thuten Kesang suggests the push for trade with China is clouding clear stances on human rights issues.
"The illegal occupation of Tibet, the world knows about it, but nobody is prepared to do anything about it because everybody wants the trade business with China," he said.
He said New Zealand was "pussy-footing around" and allowing Chinese regime policies into the country because of the drive to do business with China.
"I think it's high time they forget about the money value and do something with the Chinese communist government."
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