Japan's naval move to New Zealand challenges China's ‘geopolitical opportunism'
Carrying more than 500 crew, the two Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyers
docked in Wellington last Friday as part of an
Indo-Pacific deployment that included war games with Australia, New Zealand and other partners.
The symbolic visit reflects Japan's intent to deepen defence cooperation with like-minded nations and expand its naval footprint further away from its territorial waters, according to observers.
'Our defence forces are developing cooperative work, not only with New Zealand and Australia but also many
Pacific Island countries ,' Japan's envoy to Wellington, Makoto Osawa, said last Friday.
'Our main goal is the free and open Indo-Pacific,' he added.
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