New Zealand’s blossoming friendship with the Philippines

NZ is one of the countries that heeded the Philippines’ call for support in standing up to China’s aggression

Many Filipinos might think of New Zealand as an idyllic land of rolling hills and green(er) pastures, but our southern Pacific neighbor is becoming more grim and determined in facing security issues that the Philippines has long been battling head-on.

In 2023, New Zealand came up with a national security strategy for the first time, ever. While that speaks of the Zen the country has lived in for a long time, it’s also another sign of the changing geopolitical atmosphere in the Indo-Pacific region. Even Zen NZ is hedging its bets.

In 2024, the Philippines welcomed NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters. This year, the two countries will start talking about a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which will facilitate joint military exercises and trainings.

New Zealand is one of the like-minded countries that heeded the Philippines’ call for support in standing up to China’s maritime incursions, even as Wellington navigates and nurtures its own ties with Beijing.

In this episode, Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug tells us about the burgeoning partnership between the Philippines and New Zealand. – Rappler.com