By Li Xiaodong
New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana .
According to US media reports on July 24, New Zealand has been frequently interacting with Fiji and other South Pacific island countries in recent days. In early June, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka visited New Zealand. Later, New Zealand's Defence Minister Hon Andrew Little visited Fijiagain, when a defense cooperation agreement known as the Status of Forces Agreement was signed between the two sides. This reflects New Zealand's strategic considerations to accelerate deployment in the South Pacific, in which strengthening defense cooperation with countries in this region is regarded as a key element.
In 2018, as the US and Australia sought closer defense ties with multiple South Pacific countries, New Zealand quickly rolled out the so-called "Pacific Reset" policy and made it the centerpiece of the national foreign and defense policy. Powles, a researcher at Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies in New Zealand, said that the essence of the "Pacific Reset" policy is to create a coherent strategy for New Zealand when dealing with the southern Pacific nations.
To implement the "Pacific Reset" policy, New Zealand planned to invest 714 million New Zealand dollars (about 440 million US dollars) in four years, and set up 10 government offices in eight South Pacific island countries to promote exchanges and cooperation in defense and other fields between New Zealand and South Pacific countries.
Among them, the Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) launched by the New Zealand Ministry of Defense had received wide attention. It aims to create opportunities for their defense forces to carry out military missions in relevant areas and provide military skill training opportunities to South Pacific countries. New Zealand has also signed Status of Forces Agreements with Fiji, Australia and New Caledonia (an overseas territory of France), Visiting Forces Agreements with the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Timor-Leste, as well as agreements to provide for the temporary stay of armed forces with Samoa and Tonga.
These programs and agreements are conducive for New Zealand to develop cooperation in information exchange, joint exercise and rescue and other fields with South Pacific countries. It is worth noting that New Zealand also dispatched technical consultation teams to South Pacific countries, as well as defense counselors to Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji.
Subject to the geographical environment, marine security occupies an important position in the cooperation of South Pacific countries. Currently, New Zealand is trying to assist the Solomon Islands, Fiji and other countries in developing new maritime security strategies. According to reports, New Zealand has taken it for granted that it plays a leading role in the development of this region. In the Defence White Paper 2010, it stressed that "the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will be better placed to link with partners and — crucially — to lead operations independently." For this, "the NZDF must be equipped sufficiently such that it does not need to depend on partners and friends for basic forms of operating support."
However, New Zealand has not yet acquired such capabilities. “In recent years, New Zealand's ability to respond to multiple disasters on the home front and in the region is reduced," Powles said. At present, New Zealand hopes to fulfill its security commitments in the South Pacific region by strengthening defense cooperation with other countries in this region. The concrete results remain to be further observed.
