Perhaps we need to take over New Zealand before they do a Solomon Islands on us.

Their Prime Minister has announced that Xi Jinping is not a dictator, after calls for New Zealand to start pulling its weight in AUKAS.

New Zealand was the only Five Eyes country to refuse to sign a statement condemning Beijing for its destruction of Hong Kong's democracy in 2021. The US is wary of sharing secrets with NZ for fear that might end up in Xi Jinping's intelligence briefings. It was noted in America that Australia's strategy towards China could not be more different from New Zealand's, and how Australia was suffering Chinese boycotts because of it - unlike suck-up New Zealand. Remember the sickening defence of one of their Ministers comparing some old Maori mumbo jumbo with Chinese dragons, or some such rot?

At the time, the idea of reducing Five Eyes to Four Eyes was mooted.

NZ spends a mere 1% of GDP on defence. One wit summed up the little country's defence policy in one word - 'Australia'. But, like the Solomon's, they might get a better deal from China.

The labour government is too busy expanding the public service, co governance with the Maori and grovelling at the feet of China that it has nothing for the military.

If New Zealand is attacked with more than a Granny with a butter knife it is stuffed.

"Five Eyes"
What a joke!
AUKAS is essentially 'one eye' issuing temporary franchises to those who want to believe they are important to the cause.
The temporary franchisees have to prove their commitment by acceding to the 'suggestion come request' of 'one eye'
The nuclear submarines, essentially built by the UK, supposedly for Australians
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king

"Their Prime Minister has announced that Xi Jinping is not a dictator, after calls for New Zealand to start pulling its weight in AUKAS."

As far as I knew New Zealand has already made it's decision on AUKUS.
Maybe things have changed since earlier in the year, but if so I haven't heard about it.

Nanaia Mahuta shuts door on NZ joining AUKUS after U.S says it’s ‘very much open’
http://pina.com.fj/2023/07/28/nanaia-mahuta-shuts-door-on-nz-joining-aukus-after-u-s-says-its-very-much-open/

>>“The door is very much open for NZ and other partners to engage as they see appropriate,” said Blinken.
But that door was later slammed shut by Mahuta.
“I’ll be really clear, we’re not contemplating joining AUKUS,” she said.
Not only would AUKUS clash with our nuclear-free laws, but also the country’s nuclear-free Pacific policy. It’s a club we’d have to sell our soul to join.<<

My personal thoughts are that this coming war is one we should stay out of.
The smart countries and the ones who will fare best are the ones who stay non-aligned.

I don't care about western hegemony, defending the US dollar or defending Taiwan.
If the Taiwanese are stupid enough to vote for the pro-western Democratic Progressive Party instead of pro-unification KMT, then they deserve to become the next Ukraine.
Let them make their own democratic choice and live with the consequences.
Hopefully they are intelligent enough to vote for the Kuomintang next year, and things won't turn into WWIII in the first place.

View from Taiwan: KMT frames 2024 election as a choice between war and peace
http://www.axios.com/2023/05/23/taiwan-kmt-frames-2024-election-choice-between-war-peace

I think India is probably in the best position right now.
They're lucky enough to hold the position with the US of 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend',
- whilst remaining non-aligned and supporting a multi-polar world.

Hear what Jaishankar says
http://youtu.be/kKJeaM-FeMA

Was the Dangerous Doctor Donald selling US secrets to the highest bidder when he had the top job? The Kiwi's are right, they can't trust the Americans, and that's a fact. America should have eight eyes, like all the other spiders in the world! Not five, termites have five eyes! Maybe the Americans are termites or spiders. take your pick!

Thanks AC, you're not like that sycophant the Village idiot with his all the way with LBJ rubbish. You see the Americans for what they are! BTW a top European military expert said Ukraine wont last the Winter, they wont be able to protect their power plants and other infrastructure from Russian attack, they are using up more missiles per day than their allies in the west can produce in a month. And many in Europe are getting nervous that their own military capability is getting dangerously depleted. Many Republicans in US are wanting to cut off military aid to Ukraine, they see it as an unwinnable war.

According to New Zealand's Foreign Minister New Zealand
manages the China relationship carefully. It works to
avoid being caught in rivalry especially between China
and the United States.

New Zealand's relations with China have grown, particularly
in the areas of trade, education, tourism, climate change,
and public sector cooperation. Their relationship has been
characterized by trade and economic cooperation.

Of course Australia should keep on eye on what New Zealand is
doing - but I'm not sure what it can do about it. New
Zealand and China according to sources on the web have a long
standing relationship going back to the 1840s. The previous
PM , Jacinta Adhern used stronger language when dealing with
China. The current administration is treading more carefully
probably it wants to maintain trade and economic cooperation.

New Zealand most likely does not want China to impose sanctions
like it to on Australia.

It is a complex situation.