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Australia and New Zealand are using the Solomon Islands crisis to boost their position in the Pacific amid the growing US-led confrontation with China.

ANALYSIS: The announcement of New Zealand's committment followed pledges from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

By Bryce Edwards* Opinion - This week New Zealand was officially pronounced the second most peaceful nation on Earth - just behind Iceland - in the publication of the annual Global Peace Index. New Zealand's high "peacefulness" score was based on the country's low amount of violence, conflict and terrorism. Defence Minister Peeni Henare said defence spending is 'business as usual'. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone However, New Zealand was marked down in the results this year because of "an increase in weapons imports and military expenditure." You can read the full report here: Global Peace Ind...

New Zealand maritime security strategy targets China New Zealand’s maritime security is facing a host of “rising threats,” according to a strategy paper recently released by the Labour-Green Party government. The 40-page document, “Maritime Security Strategy—Guardianship of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Maritime Waters,” was officially launched on June 17 at a conference hosted by the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) Centre for Strategic Studies, following its publication in December by the Ministry of Transport. Royal New Zealand Navy (Wikimedia Commons) The strategy requires t...

Smallest member of world’s oldest intelligence-sharing network prefers a more traditional approach to megaphone diplomacy, according to analystsThey say it suggests different ideas on the purpose of the alliance and that Wellington doesn’t want to damage relations with Beijing, as others have