Table of Contents
Summarised by Centrist
New Zealand is facing a new geopolitical reality as China flexes its military power in the Pacific, Trump redefines America’s alliances, and Putin waits for the West to falter.
Chinese warships recently staged live fire drills off Australia’s coast, within striking range of New Zealand.
“The point is to show to Australia and New Zealand that China could cut our air and sea links without any warning,” warned Professor Anne-Marie Brady.
China has recently expanded its influence in the Pacific, signing an ocean economy agreement with the Cook Islands that includes deep-sea mining—a move that has raised security concerns in Wellington.
Defence Minister Judith Collins has signalled that New Zealand must invest more in its military, particularly naval power, to protect its vast seabed resources. “It’s really important to understand that we do actually have quite a lot to defend,” she said.
The government is moving closer to the US, strengthening ties with Australia and considering deeper military cooperation with Japan and the Philippines. Collins is also pushing for increased defence spending, with a goal of 2% of GDP.
Journalist Thomas Manch writes that New Zealand’s long-held strategy of balancing economic ties with China and security ties with the US is becoming untenable.
Image: Petty Officer Chris Weissenborn/New Zealand Defence Force
