News Brief
New Zealand On Alert As Cook Islands Signs Comprehensive Strategic Deal With China
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown
The Cook Islands has officially signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China, a move that is likely to raise concerns in New Zealand, which maintains constitutional ties with the island nation, reported The Hindu.
The agreement, signed on 15 February, marks a deepening of China’s engagement in the Pacific region, an area of increasing geopolitical competition.
'It Is An Opportunity To Benefit From'
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang formalised the agreement in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.
In a statement following the signing, Brown emphasised the potential benefits of the partnership for the Cook Islands.
"This provides opportunities for our government, our private sector and our people to benefit from enhanced partnership opportunities with China in areas aligned with our national interests and long-term development goals," he said, quoted as saying by The Hindu.
The agreement outlines a framework for cooperation between China and the Cook Islands in priority sectors, including, Trade and Investment, Tourism, Ocean Science and Aquaculture, Agriculture and Infrastructure, and Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness.
New Zealand’s Growing Concerns
New Zealand has been increasingly cautious about China’s expanding influence in the Pacific, with Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters stating that the country will closely examine the agreements once they become available.
The Cook Islands is a self-governing Pacific nation located between New Zealand and Hawaii, but its citizens hold New Zealand passports, and Wellington provides budget support while committing to defend the island if necessary.
New Zealand has expressed frustration over a lack of prior access to the details of the agreement despite having requested to review them before Mr. Brown’s visit to China.
China’s Expanding Footprint in the Pacific
The Cook Islands is the latest Pacific nation to strengthen ties with Beijing, as China continues its diplomatic and economic expansion in the region.
China has made significant inroads into the Pacific in recent years, signing security and development agreements with nations like Solomon Islands and Kiribati, raising concerns among Western allies such as the US and Australia.
During his visit to China, Brown has also engaged with Chinese institutions focused on marine science, climate resilience, and economic cooperation, as he shared in a social media post.
