NZ sticking to co-operation, not military deal with Japan

A defence pact between Australia and Japan has not inspired New Zealand officials to bolster formal military ties with Japan, or with other countries.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week flew to Japan to sign an agreement which will increase joint military exercises and have Australian soldiers posted on Japanese soil – a response to rising concerns about China’s territorial claims in the South China and East China seas.

China has been rapidly expanding its footprint in the South China Sea, including by building military installations on islands constructed on atolls and challenging countries like the Philippines and Vietnam. It is also locked in a territorial dispute with Japan over a set of islands in the East China Sea.

In both seas, rising military tensions have almost led to confrontation between powers including the United States, China and Japan.

New Zealand has increased its co-operation with Japan in recent years, but a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Peeni Henare said such military agreements between Australia and Japan were ‘‘not being considered’’.

Henare later told reporters the Government was not prioritising any new military relationships but would strengthen existing arrangements.

‘‘We’ve got some key allies and key partners, Australia obviously being one of them, there’s been lots of mention about the Five Eyes in that piece of work,’’ he said. ‘‘So I’ll continue to strengthen the relationships that we do have. If there is going to be any priority, one over the other, then right now there isn’t one.’’

New Zealand and Japan agreed to further their ‘‘strategic co

operative partnership’’ in 2019, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe releasing a joint statement covering matters including a shared concern about the South China Sea.

The leaders agreed to conduct ‘‘a joint study towards negotiating a security information sharing agreement between Japan and New Zealand’’.

Robert Ayson, professor of strategic studies at Victoria University, said New Zealand had developed a slightly closer relationship with Japan from a ‘‘pretty low base’’.

‘‘The Aussies are always going to be ahead of us, but that isn’t to say that New Zealand hasn’t always seen Japan as a partner, not just in defence,’’ he said.

Ayson said Japan, Australia and the United States regularly met and issued declarations that were critical of China’s actions in the South China Sea.