New Zealand Joins Pacific Defense Alliance With Australia, Fiji to Counter China

New Zealand is in exploratory talks to join the Ocean of Peace Alliance, a military pact between Australia and Fiji signed July 6 that commits each nation to defend the other if attacked. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on July 13 that New Zealand should not be deterred by Chinese objections. The move comes after China test-fired a long-range ballistic missile over the Pacific on July 7, raising regional security concerns.

What the Ocean of Peace Alliance does

Australia and Fiji signed the Ocean of Peace Alliance on July 6, creating mutual defense obligations. Under the pact, an attack on either nation triggers the other’s full support. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there is “no higher obligation than to come to each other’s aid at a time of need.” The alliance marks Fiji’s first-ever defense treaty and makes it Australia’s fourth formal ally, after the U.S., New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. The treaty allows other Pacific countries to join if they can further its purposes and contribute to regional security.

Why New Zealand is considering joining

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signaled interest in the alliance on July 7, and Foreign Minister Peters confirmed exploratory talks on July 13. Peters said China will likely call the move provocative but that New Zealand should not be fazed. He noted that Pacific nations have a right to ensure the region remains peaceful and stable. Peters also highlighted China’s July 7 ballistic missile test, which flew over the exclusive economic zones of Micronesia, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Kiribati, as evidence of the security threat.

China’s expanding Pacific presence

China has deepened its military and economic reach across the Pacific through port construction, airport development, and security agreements. In 2023, Beijing signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands, located 1,200 miles northeast of Australia, raising alarm among traditional regional partners. Australia last week also signed a separate security agreement with Vanuatu, designating Canberra as its preferred security and policing partner. Peters told RNZ that if Pacific nations resist Chinese pressure, “the direction could be different in the future.”

Broader regional security shifts

New Zealand has also strengthened ties with India, with Prime Minister Modi visiting Auckland on July 12 to announce a strategic partnership covering defense, naval exercises, and trade. The two nations signed a free-trade agreement in April. Zhiqun Zhu, director at the China Institute at Bucknell University, said the Ocean of Peace Alliance could deepen distrust between China and Australia, though it may not immediately affect Beijing’s relations with smaller Pacific island nations.

Final Thoughts

New Zealand’s potential entry into the Ocean of Peace Alliance signals a coordinated regional response to Chinese military expansion in the Pacific. The move reflects broader efforts by Australia and its partners to maintain a stable, open Indo-Pacific through defense partnerships rather than Chinese dominance.

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