Little touts NZ’s nuclear positioning
Defence Minister Andrew Little has told the nuclear powers that New Zealand’s nuclear-free stance is not ‘‘wishful thinking’’, and the country will gear up to defend ‘‘our free and democratic way of life’’.
Little gave a speech on nuclear threats at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a summit held in Singapore, yesterday. He told an audience that New Zealand had ‘‘clear eyes’’ about challenges to security and was increasing its military spending.
‘‘Do not confuse my country’s moral clarity with wishful thinking,’’ he said. ‘‘New Zealanders must be prepared to equip ourselves ... to protect our own national security. And we are.
‘‘We will stand prepared, and will maintain the military capability necessary to contribute to the rulesbased international order and protection of our free and democratic way of life now and in the future.’’
Little was part of a panel discussion on nuclear issues that included General Sahir Shamshad Mirza of Pakistan, a nuclear state; Kim Gunn, a South Korean special representative; and Angus Lapsley, assistant secretary general of the nuclear deterrent alliance Nato.
On the sidelines of the summit yesterday, he also met Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, Ukraine’s defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and the East Timor Defence Minister Filomeno da Paixa˜o de Jesus.
Speaking at the panel discussion, Little said a range of regional issues, including ‘‘destabilising’’ actions in the South and East China Seas and ‘‘Pacific Rim state’’ Russia invading of Ukraine, had heightened tensions – and increased nuclear threats.
He said there had been a ‘‘false’’ categorisation of ‘‘so-called tactical or battlefield nuclear weapons’’. Reuters reported last week that Russia was progressing plans to station such weapons in neighbouring Belarus.
‘‘There are no circumstances in which their use could be morally justified,’’ he said.
Little said there was ‘‘no ambiguity’’ in New Zealand’s position on nuclear weapons, and its nuclear ban would remain, including for nuclearpowered vessels. New Zealand’s only formal defence ally, Australia, is planning to obtain nuclear-powered submarines in the coming decades.
‘‘For small, liberal democracies like New Zealand, we do not get to avoid the real-life effects of geostrategic competition,’’ Little said.
‘‘Our way of life, including the freedoms we cherish ... can never be fully safeguarded from the effects of nuclear conflict in a world that tolerates nuclear weapons.’’
The Shangri-La Dialogue is the Asia region’s premier defence summit, attended by defence ministers and military leaders from 40 countries. It is hosted by Londonbased think-tank International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Security and access to the event is tight. Singapore has closed the airspace within 1 kilometre of the Shangri-La Hotel, and its special police force of Gurkhas from Nepal are guarding the event. There is no space afforded for media in the rooms where delegates are speaking, except for limited photo and video opportunities.
The headline speakers at the event will be Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, United States defence secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s defence minister Li Shangfu.