Enhanced Military Cooperation Between New Zealand and Australia Amid Chinese Military Actions

On Saturday, leaders from New Zealand and Australia convened to discuss the need for deeper military cooperation, especially in light of a notable live-fire exercise conducted by the Chinese military near their borders. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Queenstown for their second annual meeting, where the focus was primarily on enhancing military interoperability. Luxon referred to Australia as New Zealand’s “only ally” and expressed a desire to work closely together, forming a unified defense force reminiscent of the Anzac troops who collaborated during World War I.

The discussions took place following a Chinese naval flotilla's unprecedented weapons demonstration in the Tasman Sea, which prompted commercial flights to reroute. This event underscored China's expanding military capabilities, as their navy rarely operates in such southern regions. Albanese revealed that he aired concerns over this lack of notification to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a previous state visit, to which Xi noted Australia’s own military exercises in the contested South China Sea.

Both prime ministers recognized the volatile and perilous strategic climate their nations currently face and stressed the importance of their alliance in addressing mutual interests. They praised ongoing enhancements in defense collaboration, despite refraining from directly mentioning China in their statements. Albanese acknowledged that Australia and New Zealand frequently evaluate their political strategies concerning geostrategic competition, specifically regarding major world powers.

Luxon highlighted their shared approach in dealing with China, emphasizing its significance as a global power with which both nations must engage. He noted the importance of open dialogue regarding their differing historical experiences, political systems, and values. Furthermore, Luxon recently unveiled plans to bolster the combat readiness of the New Zealand Defense Force, aiming to elevate defense spending to over 2% of GDP—an increase from approximately 1% over the last two decades.

In a noteworthy development for regional defense ties, Japanese warships made a port call in New Zealand for the first time in nearly 90 years. This comes on the heels of Australia’s announcement regarding the construction of a fleet of 11 naval frigates by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, reflecting a financial commitment of around $6.5 billion. Australia is also involved in a substantial submarine agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom, which could cost up to $245 billion as part of the AUKUS trilateral partnership. Albanese affirmed that Australia is committed to increasing its defense budget in alignment with opinions urging Western nations to bolster their military expenditures and reduce dependence on U.S. security.