00:01FBI Director Kash Patel has sparked backlash in New Zealand by suggesting the opening of its first stand-alone office in the country aims to counter Chinese influence in the contested South Pacific Ocean.
00:13The announcement that we are opening up our law enforcement attache office here in Wellington shows the world that the FBI is actually prioritizing a permanent presence across all five ICE countries.
00:24And here in New Zealand, we had not had that until this historic moment.
00:28New Zealand ministers subtly dismissed Patel's claims.
00:31A government statement issued emphasized joint efforts against fighting crime and made no mention of China.
00:37Defence Minister Judith Collins said she expects no response from China.
00:41I don't expect any response at all. This is our country, our sovereign right to do what we do.
00:46The office's opening aligns New Zealand with other five ICE intelligence-sharing nations.
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