Government to pass law enabling NZ to impose sanctions on people, services, companies and assets related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

New Zealand legislating an autonomous sanctions regime specifically against Russia is a hasty, half-baked exercise in adhockery. But it is more than that: it is a copout that enables New Zealand to avoid the danger of upsetting its main trading partner, China, or its main chum, the United States, which has an inglorious record of invading other countries to impose its Pax Americana.

For 70 years New Zealand has supported the United Nations, and confined itself to implementing sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. The UN's great flaw is the power of veto the five 'Great Powers' that founded the UN after World War II awarded themselves. 

New Zealand could have both supported the United Nations and given itself the power of imposing autonomous sanctions if the law were written to allow such sanctions only if a sanctions motion had been passed by a majority vote on the UN Security Council, then vetoed by any one of the permanent members. Thus New Zealand's autonomous sanctions would be seen to be upholding the majority will of the UN Security Council, or General Assembly, and defying that antidemocratic veto.

However, had New Zealand passed such a law, affecting all five permanent members, it would have been faced with uncomfortable decisions the next time the United States chose to wage war against another country (Iraq, Afghanistan), or the next time the United States used its Security Council veto to assist apartheid Israel in its endless oppression of the Palestinians.

Are we not encouraging dividing the world into two camps and taking sides at our peril regardless of the provocations and covert WWIII that has been ongoing? Unilateral US and its supporters vs multilateral China/Russia and their supporters?

Lol tee, enabling Government to freeze assets is meaningless given there are bugger all!

I doubt China wants to commit military suicide in an afternoon fighting the US Navy. Russia would be easier, particularly now they are weakened.

China all talk, no action anyway.

I rather hope Taiwan takes over mainland China. The problem does not arise since NZ does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country (although obviously it is - own govt passing its own laws etc). Whereas the Ukraine is accepted as an independent country. 

China has less chance of taking over Taiwan than Mussolini did Malta, Comrade X. Told you that before. How’s the digestion then. Still having difficulty holding down facts?

Suggest that if China tries this, the world will act. Putin has galvanised the world to reconsider their approach to oppressive regimes that threaten global stability. 

I put Xi along with Putin here, different methods, but just as much risk to the world.  China is dangerous and the less we depend on them the better.

Some good argument there certainly. Those pushed into a corner can certainly turn at bay, giving rise & fuel to such as fascism. But in comparison to the doomed & hapless Weimar  Republic it is markedly different now, in these modern times. You see up until Putin, Russia was enjoying liberties and luxuries unheard since the Bolsheviks took over in 1917.  That can hardly have been forgotten. If there was once Tsars and aristocracy now there is a Red Tsar and oligarchs. As well internet and all the associated attachments shed light daily on global life, whereas those activities were shuttered behind the iron curtain,  well and truly.  Putin is fast taking Russia back to the old swamp. The people might not exactly want to buy into that like they were forced to for nigh on 100 years.

The Russian oligarchs exist with Putin's blessing - and that blessing requires them funding the leader. And on down it goes through he business sector.  Connections to the tyrant are required.