The Cook Islands have entered into a strategic partnership deal with China that covers areas such as deep-sea mining and education scholarships. The document outlining the agreement was released by the Cook Islands government and excludes security ties. The move by the Cook Islands to strengthen economic diplomacy with China has raised concerns among Western nations, particularly New Zealand, which was not consulted despite having constitutional ties with the Cook Islands.
Prime Minister Mark Brown emphasized that the partnership with China is meant to complement, not replace, existing relationships with countries like New Zealand and Australia. However, opposition within the Cook Islands has grown over potential threats to close ties with New Zealand. This has led to a no-confidence vote being called in parliament by opposition parties.
China has agreed to provide a one-time grant of about $4 million to the Cook Islands as part of the partnership. New Zealand, on the other hand, has raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the agreements signed during Brown’s visit to China. They are looking to engage with the Cook Islands government to understand the implications of the pact released and analyze its impact on New Zealand and its citizens.
The partnership with China includes cooperation in areas such as seabed mining, disaster relief, and cultural ties. While security is not explicitly mentioned in the agreement, there are concerns about potential military use of information and marine infrastructure. Overall, the Cook Islands’ strategic partnership with China is seen as a way to diversify their portfolio of partnerships and open up opportunities in trade, infrastructure, and ocean resources.
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