MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The leaders of New Zealand and Australia on Saturday discussed closer cooperation between they their expanding militaries against the backdrop of a recent extraordinary Chinese live-fire exercise near their shores.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hosted his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at the tourist city of Queenstown for their second annual bilateral leaders’ meeting.

Luxon said his country wanted closer military cooperation with Australia, a country he describes as New Zealand’s “only ally.”

“A big focus for us has been interoperability with Australia. We want to be a force multiplier,” Luxon told reporters.

“We want to be one, sort of, essential Anzac force essentially operating within our region,” he added, referring to the Austr

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