New Zealand Weighs Joining Australia-Fiji Ocean of Peace Defense Alliance

According to Lianhe Zaobao, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on July 9 that New Zealand is considering joining the “Ocean of Peace Alliance” defense pact signed this week by Australia and Fiji. Australia and Fiji signed the alliance on July 6, committing to provide mutual defense support if attacked and opening the pact to other Pacific countries with militaries. Luxon said New Zealand welcomed the alliance and has close military ties with Australia and a longstanding relationship with Fiji. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Pacific nations have advocated for regional countries to lead regional security, and that deeper alliances with Australia, Fiji and other Pacific states would help strengthen partnerships, while Defense Minister Judith Collins said it would be an opportunity to bolster Pacific unity. The report said Australia is pushing the pact to strengthen ties with Pacific island nations and counter China’s regional influence; hours after the pact was signed, China test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile without a nuclear warhead that landed in the Pacific Ocean. Peters said earlier that the missile test ran counter to Pacific island nations’ desire to avoid the region becoming a venue for major-power military competition and was not conducive to peace and stability in the South Pacific.