Travis Gidado and His Study on New Zealand

10/10/2019 Travis Gidado, a Yancheng Academy scholar completed his MA thesis on Sino-New Zealand relations under the supervision of Associate Professor Chen Changwei from the School of International Studies. His thesis is titled “From ‘Firsts’ to ‘Fear’: An examination of the shifting perception of Chinese influence in New Zealand (1997~2018).

Travis Gidado (Qiao Wei as his Chinese name) of the Yancheng Academy completed his MA thesis “From ‘Firsts’ to ‘Fear’: An examination of the shifting perception of Chinese influence in New Zealand (1997~2018)   in June, supervised by Associate Professor Chen Changwei.

The thesis argues that China’s unprecedented economic growth and emergent strength as a nation have stoked considerable anxiety vis-à-vis its engagement with the current international order. As such, China’s rise has led observers to question the nature of contemporary Chinese influence: how does a budding hegemony governed by a powerful party and buoyed by rising economic fortunes plan to exercise its newfound power on the world stage? The concerns raised by this query have extended into almost every corner of the globe, but perhaps the most interesting case of “China panic” can be observed in New Zealand, where University of Canterbury academic Anne-Marie Brady’s controversial report on domestic Chinese influence has sparked vigorous debate from policymaking chambers to busy workplaces. This thesis intends to examine the shifting perception of Chinese influence in New Zealand since the latter’s landmark decision to conclude its WTO negotiations with China in 1997, becoming the first developed country to do so and triggering a series of economic “firsts” that continue to shape the bilateral relationship.

While the research on Chinese influence in New Zealand remains relatively scant and somewhat unbalanced (owing to the fear that has driven much of the scholarship surrounding this question), this study leverages rigorous academic pieces, lengthy articles from notable publications, and first-person interviews with relevant elites in the business, policy and academic worlds to propose a hypothesis that builds upon three subject areas: 1) New Zealand’s complicated and fraught relationship with the United States since World War II, 2) New Zealand’s long-standing rapport with Australia and its divergent response to China’s rise, and 3) Anne-Marie Brady’s “Magic Weapons” report on Chinese influence in New Zealand. Combined, these topics capture the essence of New Zealand’s relationship with China, as one cannot understand New Zealand’s contemporary perspective on foreign policy without first unpacking its relationships with much larger Western partners. Upon examining New Zealand’s up-and-down interactions with the United States and Australia, its proactive engagement with China (and recent challenges stemming from that relationship) becomes much easier to grasp.

In analyzing the above topics, it is hypothesized that the rising fear of Chinese influence in New Zealand stems from the co-option of fears expressed by key partner countries (both with respect to Chinese power and New Zealand’s capacity to defend against it), cultural differences coupled with economic changes, and the perceived political threat that a government presumed to be authoritarian and anti-democratic presents not just to New Zealand’s liberal democratic principles, but to the rules-based international order itself. This study concludes that the primary fears regarding Chinese influence in New Zealand arise out of a perceived economic “asymmetry” between the two countries and its resulting sociocultural impact on key sectors such as immigration, tourism and education. Contrary to contemporary rhetoric regarding Chinese influence, it is also observed that political considerations are less salient in New Zealand than they are among primary partner countries. In conclusion, this study will propose a pragmatic way forward for New Zealand’s leadership to address the growing concerns regarding China’s domestic intentions and provide a blueprint for other small states facing similar debates. 

Travis Gidado is a Yenching scholar at Peking University studying International Relations and Politics. A graduate of Yale University and King's College, Cambridge, Travis joined NZCCRC in Victory University of Wellington in January and February 2018 as a Visiting Research Fellow focusing on New Zealand's evolving relationship with China and the United States. Professionally, Travis has worked in several roles at the intersection of business and public policy, with previous stints at The White House, UK Cabinet Office, Atlantic Media, Goldman Sachs, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Most recently, Travis worked on healthcare regulation and strategic business development for Veyo Care GmbH, a Berlin-based startup.

Click here to read more news and events stories...