The United States is “going through a bit of a shakedown” but remains a “reliable security partner,” says Defence Minister Judith Collins, as she stresses the importance of the Government’s new $12 billion defence capability plan.
Earlier this week, Collins unveiled the long-awaited strategic plan, which was followed by an announcement the Government would pump billions more into defence.
Citing rising global tensions, PM Christopher Luxon said military spending was “simply too low” and that it should rise to more than 2% of GDP within the next eight years.
The defence plan suggested New Zealand faced its most dangerous strategic environment in decades. Speaking to Q+A, Collins was pressed about the report’s positioning towards the threat of China – New Zealand’s largest trading partner.
“China has been, and is, a very good friend to New Zealand, but what we are seeing in the Pacific is an increasing presence that is, in many cases, unwanted.”
The union says the $12b cash injection will be undermined by last month’s proposed civilian job cuts. (Source: 1News)
Aballistic missile test near French Polynesia and live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea were examples of “unusual” and non-routine activity, the Defence Minister said.
Collins was pressed about comparable US military activity in the region.
“America routinely fires missiles. The issue here is, that this is the first time in 44 years that China has done it. In addition to that, it went right across a lot of nations that had no notice of it. I have to say they were pretty disappointed,” she responded.
US still a ‘reliable’ partner despite ‘shakedown’ – Collins
It comes as President Donald Trump threatened to upend US geopolitical norms with speculation that the Australian-involved AUKUS agreement was in the firing line.
So, does the United States remain a reliable partner to New Zealand? Collins said it was, despite what she described as an ongoing “shakedown”.
“The US, at the moment, is going through a bit of a shakedown,” she said. “But I think the US is a reliable security partner. Its contribution in World War II in the Pacific is one of the reasons that we live in a democracy now. People should remember that.”
She added that New Zealand needed to maintain its close relationship with Australia, a nation that currently remains more closely aligned with the US.
When asked, Collins added that the Trump administration’s treatment of NATO allies would be in the minds of ministers if they were to consider joining AUKUS Pillar Two.
“No doubt Cabinet will consider that in due course – should we take it to Cabinet.”
“But the point is that everybody needs to pull their weight in defence. That’s a very clear message. I was at the Munich Security Conference when that message was given by vice president Vance, and I know what the reaction was.”
The highest approval came from ACT Party supporters. (Source: 1News)
She added: “But the other thing is, we don’t have to do it because the US says so. We have to do it because it’s the right thing to do for New Zealand.”
Collins also defended the plan’s $100-300 million allocation for cyber security within the Defence Force, reaffirming that it would not be used to develop offensive capabilities.
When pressed about why the same principle wouldn’t apply to cyber defence as applied to spending on military defence capability, the Defence Minister refused to comment on details, saying, “because it is cyber and because it is secret”.
“What I can say about the work of the SIS and the GCSB is very limited, other than to say they absolutely pull their weight and they are very valued within the intelligence community.”
China was mentioned multiple times in the new defence capability plan.
“The Indo-Pacific is a primary geographical theatre for strategic competition, most visibly between China and the United States,” the plan read.
“China’s assertive pursuit of its strategic objectives is the principal driver for strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, and it continues to use all of its tools of statecraft in ways that can challenge both international norms of behaviour and the security of other states.
“Of particular concern is the rapid and non-transparent growth of China’s military capability.”
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
.
