New Zealand faces ‘negative trajectory’ of security threats in Pacific
New Zealand’s security is increasingly threatened by a more powerful China, growing militarisation of the Pacific, and the acceleration of climate change, according to a new defence report.
An unclassified version of the Defence Assessment, a policy document released for the first time since 2014 on Wednesday, outlined problems New Zealand faces as the global environment worsens, the international rules-based order is challenged, the potential for conflict in the Pacific rises, and China’s military grows.
“The trajectory is negative. There’s nothing that we see in the environment at the moment that would say that it’s going to get any more positive,” said Secretary of Defence Andrew Bridgman, during a media conference at Defence House in Wellington.
The assessment offered a stark view of the security challenges New Zealand faces, in contrast to the Government’s often softly-spoken approach to acknowledging the threats. Defence analysts were quick to question whether the Government was prepared to sufficiently respond.
We could spend money on basic infrastructure or aid, but China can out spend us so how can NZ maintain its influence in the Pacific while desperately countering the outrageous level of corruption China promotes and so many Pacific Governments revel in?
Auckland is the largest Pacific Island City and we do little to celebrate or leverage off that. We need to look at offering fundamental migration opportunities for Tuvalu, Tokelau and Kiribati who face the worst impacts of climate change but we also need to think outside the square in terms of not only countering Chinese influence but beating it.
I think two ways NZ could uniquely promote its interests into the Pacific against China could be via Rugby Diplomacy and Journalism.
The All Blacks doing a tour of the South Pacific would actually be of huge cultural and sporting importance and something the Government should sponsor with taxpayer dollars to help subsidise the costs to the All Blacks as a sign of respect to the sporting and cultural contribution Pacific Island nations have provided NZ.
Why shouldn’t we use Rugby as a diplomatic tool to build standing throughout the Pacific? It’s something China couldn’t match and something NZ could excel at.
Likewise Journalism. AUT run the excellent Pacific Media Centre to promote quality Journalism throughout the Pacific. What if NZ saw the promotion of quality Journalism as a craft throughout the Pacific as a strong way to counter corruption and Chinese influence? Scholarships, Pacific News Media websites, support of local ethical journalism these could be the pillars of promoting corruption free politics and holding those Governments to account.
Rugby diplomacy and promotion of Journalistic standards throughout the Pacific could counter China and promote NZs strategic interests.
We can’t outspend China, but we can play a far smarter game.
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The pacific is gone bomber. It’s like the local stationary shop going up against the warehouse. The house wins every time. All you are doing is throwing good money after bad now as unfortunate as it sounds.
We should worry about the CCP influence in our domestic politics. We still can turn this one around.
Domestic politics is gone Frankie. Actually everything is gone. Look at the labeling on your clothing, shoes and not just The Warehouse brands. Look at at products from Rebel sports(Asics, Adidas etc), Hallenteins Brothers, Farmers etc. The infiltration is complete. Deregulation wanted cheap…this is the result, hell even our once proud Fisher and Paykel is gone.
A good degree in truth in that Bertie and before the right get hysterical re the China winter games boycott – National would be no different.
Yeah true, Any amount of loyalty garnered from Rugby diplomacy will be wiped away the moment China opens its check books. The Pacific Islands are usually run by a cabal executive class elites of criminals, and care little for their people. Hey, there are exceptions, but by and large thats what is there and China knows it all too well.
The ‘Rugby Diplomacy’ idea is inspired to be honest and the kind of fresh and sensible thinking that is so clearly lacking in govt (this one as well as the previous).
If anyone chooses to post something against the Chinese government thinking they are anonymous… You might not be anonymous due to spies in our ISPs. I strongly suggest using a vpn* + Tor, and you might need to be wary of using NZ based vpn servers for the same reason
*At all times, and make sure it’s not a chinese owned/controlled company
I beg to differ on this issue Martyn .I would rather see us move away from the USA. Get rid of 5 Eyes and stop sending American satellites up from Rocket Lab would be two good things for a start. Surely these are more dangerous than trading with China. As for taking sides with the USA …..good god, have we learnt nothing? Their track record since WW2 is appalling. They’ve fucked up every one of their wars, and yet they keep wanting more. Now they are busy declining in most areas and sliding into civil war. Let’s leave the dumb buggers to it!
How about Immigration status for certain islands, maybe a quota system or similar in return for no chinese influence or infrastructure? Maybe 1 step further, the ability to put an NZ base on them if needed. Tuvalu and Kiribati have about 130K people, Tonga something similar. JK let in about a million people into NZ so these are actually pretty small numbers if you could control the inflow.
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