Abstract
The evolution of New Zealand's policies concerning the diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic of China and concerning the security of South-east Asia is examined with a view to identifying the major objectives determining those policies, and the priorities among the objectives. Particular interest is in the role of allies in foreign policy determination, and whether objectives and priorities were constant for governments of different political colour.
The thesis examines China policy, then South-east Asian policies, chronologically from 1949 to 1975. The chapters are divided according to four variables: the political party concerned; whether it is in government or opposition; the particular policy, or policy area, and finally, the particular time period.
It was found that New Zealand's policies in both fields were greatly influenced by the attitudes of the country's closest friends. The influence of friends was powerful because of New Zealand’s sense of military and economic dependence upon them and the consequent high priority given to maintaining strong relationships with them. On several occasions, New Zealand governments took courses of action to which they were not inclined, or refrained from courses of action to which they were inclined, because of allies. It was further found that the influences of the United States and Australia were the most pervasive throughout the period, although British attitudes were also
important.
Of New Zealand’s other objectives influential on policy, that of promoting a stable, anti-Communist South-east Asia was of importance, and so was the upholding of certain principles promoted by the United Nations.
It was found that New Zealand's Asian foreign policies were not significantly altered by changes of government. The two major political parties shared their important objectives and, most of the time, the priority among them.