TAKING THE BLUDGER'S OPTION.

• Author: Bradford, Max
• Position: New Zealand's defence policy

Max Bradford provides an Opposition viewpoint on the government's recently announced defence decisions.

Labels get in the way of a clear understanding of the things they purport to describe. So it is with the term `balanced force'. The concept of a `balanced force' is often misunderstood because those dismissing the term believe it to mean a `comprehensive force', where an army, navy or air force has -- or should have -- the capability to do everything required in modern warfare.

Defined in this -- incorrect -- way, the New Zealand Defence Force has never been a `balanced force' of course. I much prefer the term `force with a balance of capability', where the force structure is relevant to the sphere of interests we have as a country, and the responsibilities we have chosen to accept as a nation.

Three questions should shape our defence policy:

* What is New Zealand's sphere of interest, if not influence?

* What interests do we have to protect and enhance?

* What are New Zealand's responsibilities in our sphere of interest.

The geographical area, or sphere, against which we should test our interests has to be the Asia-Pacific region, though some would have us shrink to the South Pacific. Forty per cent of our trade goes into the Asia-Pacific region. Barely 4 per cent goes into the Pacific. North and South Asia will become more, not less, important to us over time, so that is where our economic, foreign and defence focus will inevitably lie.

Therefore New Zealand's vital interest is in this wider region, rather than just the Pacific. Our interests here are wide, particularly in trade, in economic affairs, and in peace and security. If there is instability or conflict in the region, we cannot trade. Investment will not flow. Countries will not trade amongst themselves, and people will not travel.

New Zealand's principal responsibilities flow from our sphere of interest, and from the moral responsibility to be a good neighbour and global citizen. Being a good neighbour means helping in times of adversity, and in stopping the adversity in the first place if possible. The best of neighbours will band together to beat the home invaders, and to enforce law and order in their communities. Neighbourhood Watch is about sharing a local community burden to achieve individual security. Everybody shares in the collective security of the Watch, and nobody bludges.

Neighbourhood watch

Defence policy is a bit like Neighbourhood Watch. The sphere of New Zealand's interests defines the sort of capability we need to meet any threats, risks and opportunities. That includes diplomatic capability, as well as defence capability.

The responsibilities we accept, and the shared values we support, define the countries and organisations with which New Zealand must act. Those responsibilities go well beyond humanitarian relief and peacekeeping.

The harder, more expensive, tasks of preserving peace and security lie with us, too, because we have interests to protect well beyond our shores. We cannot, nor should we, leave that to others. That moral dimension is often forgotten these days.

New Zealand is not so small, nor so poor, that we cannot accept a fair share of the burden of maintaining peace and security in the Asia-Pacific...