“The peace movement is deeply concerned about rumours that the Labour Government is considering joining the US military alliance with Australia and the UK, called AUKUS,” said Valerie Morse, a member of the Cancel RIMPAC Coalition.

The visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Wellington follows immediately on from the visit of the US military command of the Indo-Pacific region, Admiral John C. Aquilino, just last week.

“The Government talks about an independent foreign policy, but their actions clearly show a tightening of military relations with the United States. Along with the visits of these high ranking US soldiers and diplomats, the NZDF has been participating the US-led RIMPAC miliary exercises in Hawai’i for the last month.”

“The NZ Government’s decision to move closer to the US is an obvious reaction to more aggressive Chinese military activity in the region. It is sadly a demonstration of the lack of thinking and imagination about what choices we actually do have.”

“We don’t need to side with one destructive empire or the other. Instead, we need to build consensus for a weapons-free and independent Pacific, based on decolonisation, climate justice and active demilitarisation.”

“Neither of these empires - the US or China - is interested in protecting our rights or freedoms. They act first and only in ways that benefit them.”

“AUKUS is a project focused on arming Australia with nuclear submarines. It is a project that directly adds to the possibility of nuclear accidents and ramps up militarism in the region. New Zealand should have nothing to do with it or any other military entanglements or alliances.”

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