SINGAPORE ¨C Driven by the deteriorating geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific, New Zealand is looking to expand its defense cooperation with key regional partners, particularly Japan, through more joint exercises, maritime patrols and potentially space tie-ups, the nation¡¯s defense chief told The Japan Times.
¡°We¡¯re working closely with Japan around the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, all of these areas,¡± New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said in an exclusive interview. ¡°We are working more together while looking at new opportunities to grow the relationship in an orderly and careful way.¡±
The growing engagement is part of a reset in New Zealand¡¯s foreign and defense policy as Wellington grows alarmed over international security tensions, with the government of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon becoming increasingly vocal about its concerns over China¡¯s assertiveness, including in the Pacific.
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