New Zealand and Cook Islands fall out over China deal

The New Zealand government has recently accused the Cook Islands government of a lack of transparency regarding its planned partnership agreement with China. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is scheduled to make a state visit to Beijing this week, the country's first state visit to China, with the aim of signing the relevant agreement. However, New Zealand stated that the Cook Islands did not adequately consult with New Zealand regarding this plan, leading to what New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described as a "dispute."

The Cook Islands relies heavily on a long-standing "free association" agreement with New Zealand, which provides it with defense and financial support. China's growing influence in the Pacific region poses a challenge to the United States and its allies, which have dominated the region for years. The cooperation between the Cook Islands and China undoubtedly increases the geopolitical complexity of the region.

Prime Minister Brown stated at a press conference last week, "We value our partnership with New Zealand and expect the same respect in return." He departed for China on Monday. He also stated, "While disagreements are difficult, they are an inevitable part of international relations, but they should not define the entirety of our engagement." He denied the existence of any dispute, claiming that "communication has been continuous, respectful, and open," and emphasized that the Cook Islands, as an autonomous nation, has the right to choose its own development path.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China and the Cook Islands are important partners, and China is willing to work with the Cook Islands to promote new progress in bilateral relations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, "China's relations with the Cook Islands are not directed against any third party, nor should they be interfered with or undermined by any third party." It is reported that China established diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands in 1997 and is one of China's development partners.

Under a 60-year-old agreement between the two countries, the Cook Islands exercises self-governance within a "free association" framework and should consult with New Zealand on defense and security matters. Brown stated that the new agreement with China will cover areas such as infrastructure, trade, and tourism. Deep-sea mining is also expected to be part of the agreement. Brown believes that extracting valuable minerals from the seabed could bring enormous economic wealth to the Cook Islands, transforming the country's economic landscape. However, the practice of deep-sea mining is controversial, with critics arguing that it will exacerbate climate change, to which the Cook Islands is already vulnerable.

Luxon stated on Monday that while New Zealand maintains a "very good relationship" with the Cook Islands and its people, there was a lack of transparency in this instance. When asked whether he would consider suspending aid to the Cook Islands, as New Zealand recently did to Kiribati due to a diplomatic snub, Luxon stated that he would wait for the specifics of the agreement to be released before making a decision. Under the free association agreement, Cook Islands residents can live, work, and receive healthcare like New Zealand citizens, and some worry that they may lose these benefits if relations between the two countries further deteriorate.

Furthermore, some have criticized Brown and his government for not consulting the public before reaching an agreement with China. Democratic Party leader Tina Brown described the move as "crazy." She and another opposition leader of the Cook Islands United Party, Te-Arriki Heather, have both stated that they have lost confidence in Brown's leadership. This is despite Brown recently conceding on a controversial proposal he put forward to introduce separate passports for Cook Islands citizens, while still allowing them to retain New Zealand citizenship. Wellington rejected the plan last year.

The Cook Islands is not the first Pacific island nation to strengthen its relationship with China. The Solomon Islands signed a security agreement with Beijing in 2022, while countries such as Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea also maintain close ties with China. These developments reflect China's growing influence in the Pacific region and the willingness of countries in the region to diversify their partnerships.