New Zealand looking at new ways to grow security ties with Japan, defense chief says

Japan Times

2 days ago

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.
'We can be more vocal because we're seeing quite a lot more,' Collins said, pointing to Beijing's recent comprehensive strategic partnership deal with Cook Islands (part of the Realm of New Zealand), the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile last October that landed between the northern islands of French Polynesia and the southern islands of Kiribati, and Chinese naval exercises earlier this year in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand.
'It's an increase in activity,' Collins said.
'I think the whole Pacific is concerned about what's happening. We're seeing it's not only about fish in the Pacific, it's about seabed mining, it's about those minerals that are around the Ring of Fire. And what we're seeing is a more aggressive competition between powers in our region, and it's not one that we've asked for.'
The growing concerns prompted Wellington in April to announce defense spending commitments of $12 billion New Zealand dollars ($7.2 billion) over the next four years, including NZ$9 billion of new spending, as the country moves to a military budget of 2% of gross domestic product by 2032/2033.
Asked about why strengthening ties with Japan plays such an important role in Wellington's defense strategy, Collins said that Japan 'is very willing to play a constructive part in the Pacific,' adding that New Zealand welcomes Tokyo's efforts to do more to uphold the rules-based international order.
The Royal New Zealand Navy auxiliary ship HMNZS Aotearoa visited the Yokosuka naval base last August and conducted training activities with the Maritime Self-Defense Force. |
Royal New Zealand Navy
Military vessels from New Zealand have not only been making more port calls in Japan in recent years, but also joining South China Sea patrols alongside the Philippine, Australian, Japanese and U.S. navies. And last September, New Zealand and Australian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on the same day that a Maritime Self-Defense Force warship traversed the strategic waterway for the first time ever .
The number of exchanges between high-level officials and defense personnel from the two countries has also been on the rise.
Part of the new push is therefore to explore further opportunities for joint exercises and other activities when New Zealand military assets and personnel are in Japan.
To facilitate increased military engagements, both bilaterally and multilaterally, Tokyo and Wellington have agreed to accelerate discussions on a possible acquisition and cross-servicing agreement between their respective militaries, with Collins saying that discussions have already begun, although they have not yet reached the ministerial level.
Such an accord would not only simplify the process of sharing food, fuel and ammunition, it would also allow the use of each other's facilities during exercises.
Another crucial step to taking bilateral ties to the next level will be an 'Information Security Agreement' (ISA) that has been under negotiation since 2022 and would make it easier for the partners to share and handle classified information.
While no details have emerged on when ISA negotiations will be finalized, Collins said the two sides 'certainly are closer than what some people might think,' with sources saying that the ISA might be signed before the end of this year. Cabinet approval will be required in both countries for the deal to take effect.
Other avenues for multilateral cooperation include the countries' ongoing participation in NATO's Indo-Pacific Four grouping, alongside South Korea and Australia, where the partners are working on a number of projects that include cyberdefense, artificial intelligence, providing support for Ukraine and countering hostile information.
Cooperation with Japan could also result from the AUKUS security partnership that brings together the United States, Britain and Australia.
News emerged last year that New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Canada were being considered to join AUKUS' advanced capabilities program, known as Pillar II. That said, Collins noted her country has yet to be invited, adding that New Zealand 'would not rush into anything' and that any such decision would only be made by the entire Cabinet.
Asked about which capabilities her country could offer should it decide to join, the defense chief said there are many potential areas, particularly in the field of space and drones.
'We have expertise in space satellites. Last year, we were number three in the world for successful, verifiable vertical launches into space, after the U.S. and China. So we have significantly more capability than some people might think for a small nation.'
This, she said, is also an area where Tokyo and Wellington could work on bilaterally.
At the same time, Collins pointed to New Zealand's work on high-tech aerial, land and maritime drones, some of which have already been battle-tested as Ukraine has deployed them in swarms against Russian warships in the Black Sea.
New Zealand's defense diplomacy outreach comes as U.S.-led informal security groupings, such as the Quad and the Squad, have been emerging in the region to tackle specific regional challenges.
On the question of whether Wellington would consider becoming a member, Collins said 'it has not been on our radar to join,' explaining that New Zealand already has very close ties with countries under the Five Power Arrangements.
'We're not seeing great need for us to join further alliances, but we do feel there is a real need for us to work closely with other democracies in particular,' she noted, pointing to deepening ties not only with Japan, but also India and the Philippines, the latter of which signed a visiting forces pact with New Zealand earlier this year —a step Wellington is also considering with Tokyo.
At the same time, New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership alongside Australia, Canada, Britain and the U.S.
Tokyo has long stated its interest in becoming the group's sixth member, with Japan hosting a gathering last November of senior enlisted service members from the intelligence partnership — the first time a nonmember state has done so.
But while there are no indications that Japan will be joining the club anytime soon, Collins, who is also her country's 'Five Eyes' Minister,' pointed out that Tokyo has already occasionally benefited from intelligence provided by the grouping, something that is likely to continue 'when it's considered the right thing to do.'
'Would Japan want to be a member of it? Well, it might, but that's not for me to say. That's really for everyone to sit around and think about it,' Collins said.
'But I think there will always be opportunities where Japan, no doubt, will benefit from some of the intelligence ... shared from time to time, whether it's by us, the U.S., Canada, Australia or the U.K.'