Dave Chamberlain, Wellington
In a recent address to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington, Security Intelligence Service Director-General Andrew Hampton highlighted the escalating security risks posed by China’s expanding presence in the Pacific. His comments come at a time when the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance—comprising New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.—faces increasing pressure from President Trump, who has shown interest in taking over control of Canada and turning five eyes into four eyes.
Hampton emphasized that as Pacific nations shift their focus toward economic growth and tackling transnational crime, China has leveraged these opportunities to establish strategic agreements that intertwine economic benefits with security cooperation. He noted that China’s ambitions aim to create alternative regional frameworks and amplify its influence within Pacific Island nations, introducing significant foreign interference and espionage risks.
“The People’s Republic of China remains a complex intelligence concern for New Zealand,” he stated. “It’s imperative that we ensure our Pacific partners are aware of these risks.” This warning comes on the heels of recent agreements struck by the Cook Islands, which have deepened their ties with China in various sectors, including education, infrastructure, and fisheries.
Last month, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown formalized these ties through a series of agreements with Beijing, raising alarms in New Zealand due to their constitutional connection, which necessitates consultations on security and defense matters. In anticipation of these developments, Hampton had already traveled to the Cook Islands to provide classified intelligence regarding potential foreign interference to Prime Minister Brown before the agreements were finalized.
“With deeper relationships being forged between the Cook Islands and other nations, my agency will need to enhance our focus on the national security risks involved,” Hampton remarked.
Despite the current geopolitical tensions, especially with changes in the U.S. administration under Trump, Hampton reiterated New Zealand’s commitment to the Five Eyes alliance. He acknowledged concerns regarding the Trump administration’s decisions that may affect relations within the intelligence-sharing partnership, especially his embrace of a thaw in ties with Russia.
“The Five Eyes alliance is our most enduring and significant intelligence-sharing partnership,” he concluded. “The insights gained from our collaboration have undoubtedly bolstered the safety and security of New Zealand.” As the dynamics in the Pacific continue to evolve, New Zealand is poised to navigate the complexities of international relations while safeguarding its national interests.
在最近对新西兰国际事务研究所的讲话中，国家安全情报局局长安德鲁·汉普顿强调了中国在太平洋日益扩张的存在所带来的安全风险。他的评论正值“五眼”情报共享联盟面临特朗普总统日益施加的压力之际，特朗普表示希望对加拿大在该伙伴关系中的角色施加更多控制。
汉普顿强调，随着太平洋国家将关注点转向经济增长和打击跨国犯罪，中国利用这些机会建立了战略协议，将经济利益与安全合作交织在一起。他指出，中国的雄心在于创造替代区域框架，扩大其在太平洋岛国中的影响力，这带来了重大外国干预和间谍风险。
“中华人民共和国在新西兰仍然是一个复杂的情报问题，”他表示。“确保我们的太平洋伙伴了解这些风险至关重要。”这一警告恰逢库克群岛近期与中国在教育、基础设施和渔业等多个领域深化关系的协议签署。
上个月，库克群岛总理马克·布朗与北京正式签署了这些协议，因其宪法联系而引发新西兰的警觉，这要求在安全和国防事务上进行磋商。对此，汉普顿早已前往库克群岛，在协议达成之前向布朗提供有关潜在外国干预的机密情报。
“随着库克群岛与其他国家之间建立更深层次的关系，我的机构需要加强对相关国家安全风险的关注，”汉普顿说道。
尽管在特朗普政府的地缘政治紧张局势下，汉普顿重申了新西兰对“五眼”联盟的承诺。他承认当前特朗普政府的决策可能会影响该情报共享伙伴关系，尤其是他与俄罗斯关系的缓和。
“‘五眼’联盟是我们最持久和最重要的情报共享伙伴关系，”他总结道。“我们合作所获得的见解无疑增强了新西兰的安全与保障。”随着太平洋的动态持续演变，新西兰将继续在国际关系的复杂性中，维护其国家利益。
