Cook Islands Prime Minister is heading to China this week to sign an agreement, sparking concerns among Western nations about China’s growing influence in the Pacific region. The Prime Minister, Mark Brown, is set to sign a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement covering trade, tourism, renewable energy, and other fields, with China.
Cook Islands has a “Free Association” relationship with New Zealand, where it is an autonomous nation but maintains special legal and political ties with New Zealand. Cook Islands has full autonomy in domestic affairs, while its residents also hold New Zealand citizenship, allowing them to freely travel to and from New Zealand and access benefits like work and healthcare.
According to the constitution, New Zealand is obligated to respond to Cook Islands’ diplomatic, disaster relief, and defense requests. However, New Zealand government officials have expressed surprise at not being notified in advance about the agreement Cook Islands will sign with China, as per the constitutional requirement to share agreement details with New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, emphasized the need for transparency in defense and security matters with partner countries, stating that once New Zealand has knowledge of the agreement content, the government will decide on a response.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Mark Brown stated that New Zealand’s involvement in the agreement is unnecessary as it does not involve security or law enforcement matters, hence not requiring New Zealand’s approval. Concerns have been rising in Western countries about China’s increasing presence in the Pacific region, with efforts being made by the US, Australia, and New Zealand to strengthen ties with Pacific island nations to counter China’s growing influence.
The “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” agreement Cook Islands is signing with Beijing has heightened pressure on New Zealand, with New Zealand expressing serious concerns after multiple requests for agreement details from Cook Islands went unanswered.
In a video statement on Cook Islands television, Prime Minister Mark Brown refuted claims of secret cooperation with China, asserting that every agreement is based on Cook Islands’ best interests but refrained from disclosing specific agreement details. However, some individuals within Cook Islands have raised doubts about the transparency of the agreement.
Democratic Party leader Tina Browne highlighted concerns of the local populace regarding passport issues rather than the agreement with China. Cook Islands had previously planned to introduce its own passport but later scrapped the idea, with current residents holding New Zealand passports. Only through a Cook Islands public referendum supporting complete independence and renunciation of New Zealand passports would allow issuance of independent passports.
Analysts speculate Prime Minister Mark Brown may be pushing for deep-sea mining in Cook Islands’ surrounding waters, rich in cobalt, copper, and other valuable metals crucial for new energy, electronics, and green technologies. Concerns arise on whether deep-sea mining will be part of the agreement given Cook Islands’ extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with abundant marine resources, strategically located near major Pacific shipping routes and potentially serving as a strategic point in US-China conflicts.