US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hold a press conference during the AUKUS summit on 13 March 2023, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego California. Photo: AFP / JIM WATSON
A Korean news agency is reporting New Zealand is being considered by the US as a potential partner in the AUKUS Pillar Two security pact.
This is the strongest signal yet in an on-and-off again dance of how closely the country would be involved in the controversial US-UK-Australia AUKUS arrangement.
Yonhap news agency quoted a senior US official saying the AUKUS three are considering a range of additional partners who may bring unique strengths to Pillar Two, including South Korea, Canada and New Zealand.
This came a day after the defence chiefs of the three partners issued a joint statement noting their consideration of Japan as a partner for Pillar Two projects.
China said earlier it was gravely concerned at the prospect of Japan joining Pillar Two.
"The AUKUS partners are considering a range of additional partners who may bring unique strengths to Pillar 2, including the ROK, Canada and New Zealand, in addition to Japan," the official said in response to a question from Yonhap.
"Additional partners will only be added with full consensus, however, and through a consultation process that will take some months."
In their joint statement, the AUKUS defence chiefs expressed confidence that "engaging like-minded partners" in Pillar Two would strengthen capabilities and regional stability.
Pillar Two aims to accelerate development and sharing of advanced military technology in eight spheres including drones, radar and hypersonic missiles.
Defence Minister Judith Collins has had talks recently about Pillar Two with the US Defence Secretary, the US AUKUS ambassador, and giant US military contractor Honeywell.
She said the government is exploring what opportunities the pact might offer.
The Labour Party recently walked back from its position when it was in government, of openness to joining, to urging caution because "we're not convinced we should be positioning China as a foe".