New Zealand's defence relations with ASEAN: Paul Sinclair reviews the evolution of New Zealand's involvement in efforts to ensure the security of South-east Asia.

• Author: Sinclair, Paul

New Zealand's commitment to the security and stability of South-east Asia dates back to 1949 with an initial RNZAF deployment to the region. Its defence relations with ASEAN developed through participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum, which was formed in 1994. New Zealand is also an active participant in the recently formed ASEAN Defence Ministers Plus forum. This aims to build and sustain confidence between the region's military and civilian defence officials through developing habits of co-operation in tackling non-traditional security issues. The evolution of the ASEAN community in the years ahead should offer opportunities for New Zealand to further strengthen its relations in the defence field.

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New Zealand's defence relationship with ASEAN has its genesis in the history of our commitment to the security and stability of South-east Asia. That commitment was expressed in security agreements, bilateral training and assistance programmes, contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations in Cambodia and East Timor (subsequently known as Timor Leste), and exercise activities. It was to secure for New Zealand a seat at the table on the formation in 2010 of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Plus (eight) forum.

New Zealand's post-Second World War defence engagement with South-east Asia began with the deployment of RNZAF aircraft to Singapore in 1949 as concern grew over the spread of communism. That was quickly followed by a wider commitment, including ground troops to support efforts to defeat the communist insurgency in Malaya.

Participation in Malayan Emergency operations was accompanied by a tri-service commitment to the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve from 1955. The reserve was established to protect Commonwealth interests in the region from communist threats. When Malaysia gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963 New Zealand stepped up its ground presence with the stationing of a regular force battalion at Terendak. The battalion, along with a SAS squadron and other elements of the New Zealand armed forces, saw service in 1964 through to 1966 in helping Malaysia resist Indonesia's efforts to take control of the eastern Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The battalion subsequently moved to Singapore, where it remained until 1989.

New Zealand's concerns in the early 1950s over the expansion of communist power in the region also led to participation in the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO), a regional collective defence organisation formed in 1955. New Zealand contributed officers to SEATO's Bangkok headquarters and took part in ground and naval exercises. SEATO was dissolved in 1977.

The New Zealand armed forces played a significant role in the formation and development of the Singapore Navy following Singapore's decision to break away from Malaysia and become a sovereign country in 1965. That role was to provide a platform for a comprehensive pattern of bilateral engagement with Singapore that continues to this day and which has matured to include operational as well as training collaboration, including regular Singapore troop deployments to New Zealand to use our much larger training areas.

Prior to 1965 New Zealand's support for the region's security attracted little criticism domestically. The deployment of elements of the New Zealand armed forces to South Vietnam, initially an artillery unit and subsequently two companies from the Malaysia-based battalion, however, generated widespread opposition. Continuing concerns about the spread of communism, United States expectations of its alliance partners and alarm over indications that the United Kingdom was planning to withdraw its military presence from the region were all factors in the decision to take part in the Vietnam War. Opposition to involvement in South Vietnam led ultimately to New Zealand's withdrawal from the conflict.

Military presence

The decision to retain a military presence in the region through membership of and participation in the Five Power Defence Arrangements --the other four members being Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom--was much less contentious. For both Australia and New Zealand, the arrangements, which were made in 1971, were considered the best option to prevent the emergence of a power vacuum in the wake of a rapidly diminishing British military presence.

Phe importance of continuing to help build a stable and prosperous region was further recognised in 1973 with the launch of the Defence Mutual Assistance Programme. The aim was to provide military training and...