China’s Military Advances: New Zealand Responds | WSJ
Canberra and Wellington are deepening military ties amid growing concerns over China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a joint statement released following the annual ANZMIN 2+2 meeting held in Canberra on March 17. The meeting brought together Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins.
The discussions centered on enhancing “coordination, alignment and interoperability” between the Australian and New Zealand armed forces, with a focus on building a unified “Anzac” war machine, as described by Australian Defence Minister Marles in a post on X. This initiative is occurring as the United States seeks to strengthen alliances to deter Beijing, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The joint communiqué underscored the significance of the ANZUS treaty – the security alliance between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States established after World War II – as a cornerstone of regional security. It also referenced the importance of other partnerships, including AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, US) and the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, US). These developments signal a consolidated strategic alignment between Australia and New Zealand with the escalating US-led agenda in the region.
The ANZMIN meeting took place against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which officials view as potentially escalating into a wider conflict involving China, a key competitor to US interests. The historical context of the “Anzac” designation, referencing the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of World War I, was also highlighted, with officials acknowledging its use in promoting military cooperation and a sense of shared values between the two nations.
New Zealand is also significantly increasing its defence spending, planning roughly $7 billion in upgrades to its military capabilities, as China expands its presence in the Pacific, according to reporting from Reddit’s r/neoliberal forum. This investment reflects a broader shift in New Zealand’s approach to regional security.