But Charlot Salwai has denied the tiny Pacific nation received any financial benefit from the move, despite becoming the first country to publicly declare its support.
The Asian country has constructed runways, radars and deep sea ports on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, claiming them as their own and heightening tensions in the area.
In July, it was revealed China had threatened reprisals should New Zealand investigate claims of steel dumping by the local industry.
