The Cook Islands have entered into a strategic partnership deal with China that covers a range of areas such as deep-sea mining, education scholarships, trade, infrastructure, and ocean resources. The aim is to diversify partnerships and strengthen economic diplomacy. The agreement excludes security ties with China, in response to concerns from Western countries about Beijing’s increasing influence in the Pacific region.
The Cook Islands government faced criticism for lack of transparency in the deal, prompting Prime Minister Mark Brown to unveil the action plan in parliament. Despite backing ties with New Zealand, the government received opposition from those concerned about the potential threat to existing relationships.
China has offered a one-time grant of $4 million to the Cook Islands as part of the deal. New Zealand, which provides budget support and defends the citizens of the Cook Islands, raised concerns about the lack of consultation before the agreements were signed. However, the neighboring governments have committed to consulting on security, defense, and foreign relations going forward.
The pact between the Cook Islands and China earmarks areas such as seabed mining, hydrography, disaster relief, and cultural ties for cooperation. While security is not explicitly mentioned in the agreement, there are concerns about potential military use of information and marine infrastructure. Despite New Zealand’s previous opposition to the Cook Islands joining the United Nations without independence, the action plan indicates that China will support the nation’s aspirations to widen membership of global bodies.
————————————————————————
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
————————————————————————
