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NZ respected in SE Asia but needs to be mindful of security
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, October 20, 2011
NZ respected in Southeast Asia but needs to be mindful of security issues - report
New Zealand is well-regarded in Southeast Asia for its governance, expertise and support of global institutions and international law – but needs to be alert to the security anxieties of its friends and allies in the region, a new report commissioned by the Asia New Zealand Foundation (Asia:NZ) has found.
The report, ASEAN’s Perspective of New Zealand’s Place in Asia, is by Southeast Asian security expert Daljit Singh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.
New Zealand’s merchandise trade with Southeast Asia has doubled in the past five years, accounting for 11 percent of our exports and 16 percent of our imports.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully highlighted New Zealand’s relationship with ASEAN in a speech in Wellington today: “It would be hard for me to over-emphasise the importance the Government attaches to the ASEAN relationship.”
Mr McCully was speaking at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs conference -Major Economic & Foreign Policy Issues Facing New Zealand 2012-2017.
Mr Singh writes in his report for Asia:NZ that ASEAN and its member countries value New Zealand for its “low-key but effective contributions to ASEAN’s security and economic agenda … and its general non-confrontational approach to sensitive issues”.
New Zealand is well-regarded for its excellent governance, strong support of global institutions and the international rule of law, and its expertise in niche areas, especially education.
But he suggests better defence capabilities would enable New Zealand to strengthen its relationships. “Power shifts in the Asia-Pacific, a region vital for New Zealand’s economic and security wellbeing, are generating unease and affecting alignments not only among Asian states but also in Australia and the United States, on which New Zealand’s security ultimately depends.”
Mr Singh adds: “New Zealand will have to work hard to maintain its achievements in the face of intensified competition, for instance, by locating more businesses in Asia and moving into higher value-added, knowledge-based sectors.”
Asia:NZ Executive Director Dr Richard Grant says New Zealand has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN for more than 35 years. The report reinforces the need for New Zealand to be engaged with ASEAN countries in all economic and diplomatic aspects.
The report is the third in a series commissioned by Asia:NZ to examine New Zealand’s place in Asia. Previous reports have examined the views of Japan and Australia.
To read the latest report and listen to an audio interview with Daljit Singh, click here: http://www.asianz.org.nz/our-work/knowledge-and-research/outlook-series
Asia:NZ is a non-profit, non-political organisation dedicated to building New Zealand’s links with Asia.
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