Why did the Chinese contract start Cook Islands-New Zealand Saliva | News about politics

Prime Minister Cook Islands Mark Brown visits Beijing this week to sign a strategic partnership agreement with the second largest economy in the latest sign of the wider influence of China in the Pacific Island region.

However, the proposed pact shook the decade of the old relationship between the cooking islands and New Zealand, neighbors who were supposed to mark the 60th anniversary of the 2025 free association agreement. This agreement has long been influenced by New Zealand on Cook Islands, especially in relation to his foreign policy.

With an increase in tension, we break what is a proposed agreement between China and Cook Island, why New Zealand is upset and what it means for the region.

What is the agreement between the Cook Islands -Ai China?

Brown was supposed to sign a joint action plan for a comprehensive strategic partnership with China during his trip from February 10 to 14.

Without elaboration of the plan, he said that the partnership would expand economic capabilities, “while ensuring that our sovereignty and national interests remain in the first place.” He added that the details of “will be agreed” during her journey, which in the decade marked her first visit to the Cook Islands leader.

The agreement is expected to revolve around trade cooperation, climate, tourism and infrastructure.

Brown emphasized that the agreement does not include security or defensive things.

But the United States and its allies in the region, including Australia and New Zealand, have been careful of the growing influence of China on the Pacific since Beijing signed a security agreement with the Salomon Islands 2022. This agreement enables the presence of the Chinese police on the island, allegedly to train the police forces of the royal islands of Solomon, closest to Earth.

Is China already presence on Cook Islands?

China was a key economic partner for Cook Islands. According to Think Think Data based in Sydney based in Sydney $ 517 million foreign help between 2008 and 2022.

New Zealand, with $ 219 million, is the biggest contribution, but China, with $ 112 million, is the second largest source of foreign assistance in the country – more than twice the Australian shares. The US, meanwhile, contributed only $ 95,000 to Cook Islands during those 14 years.

In the past, China and New Zealand have joined to help the cooking islands together to develop a large project of water supply to a three -sided agreement – the first such job that Beijing has ever achieved.

Chinese financial aid – together with the help of Australia and New Zealand – helped with Cook’s islands to host a meeting of the Pacific Ocean Forums in 2023, according to the Pacific Nation Ministry external affairs and immigration.

Last September, China and Solomon Islands agreed to explore other projects – including the development of a multiple traffic center at northern Cook Island.

Are Cook Islands really autonomous in New Zealand?

The cooking islands, a group of 15 islands and atol in the South Pacific Ocean, became a British protectorate in 1888. In 1901, New Zealand annexed the region despite the local opposition and remained in control until 1965. When Cook Islands reached the status of self -government and entered the status of self -government and entered the “Free Association” with Wellington.

This arrangement allows the Cook’s islands to manage their domestic and international affairs, while relying on New Zealand for financial assistance and defense. Cooks Cook Islands have passports in New Zealand and are automatically citizens of New Zealand. In addition, almost 100,000 people identifying as Cook Islands Maori lives in New Zealand.

Although the islands of Cook are technically free to participate in their international agreements, his agreement on the “free association” with new Zealand involves provisions for regular consultations on foreign policy, especially on security and strategic matters.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, Wellington has a constitutional obligation to respond to the requirements for assistance in foreign affairs, disasters and defense.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand said he expects the Cook Islands Government to be fully consulted with Wellington about any significant agreements he planned to enter that could “have major strategic and security consequences”.

Did the tensions between New Zealand and Cook Island exploded suddenly?

No, they were built.

With 15,000 inhabitants, Cook Islands introduced a proposal in December 2024 to establish his own passport system, although Brown said it would be more to recognize his citizens as Cook Islanders and “not to be used as a travel document or something”

However, New Zealand has strongly opposed this move, warning that it could lead to complete independence and loss of the automatic citizenship of New Zealand for Cook Islanders. The proposal was eventually withdrawn due to public and government pressure.

“New Zealand broke his teeth,” said Brown Cook Islands News, a local publication, and indicated that he was “willing to punish Cook Islanders” for a passport proposal.

“The passport must be excluded. We will look at other ways so we can recognize our own nationality as Cook Islanders,” he added.

How did New Zealand respond to Chinese business?

New Zealand has expressed concern about lack of transparency, which he says has surrounded the Cook Islands Agreement, claiming that such main international contracts should be discussed before.

After Brown announced his journey, Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, told the NewStalk ZB: “Radio Station:”[This] They also blinded people with the cooking islands and ourselves. “

Although Brown insists that the agreement is purely economically, New Zealand considers him to contrary to the diplomatic arrangement of two nations.

“First of all, a request for a special passport, to say so, which would be dramatic about our constitutional arrangements, as well as the arrival of a visit to China,” said Peters, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand, speaking to the NewStalk ZB conversation .

Is New Zealand locked in any tensions in the region?

Yes, it is.

Last month, New Zealand officials said they had re -examined all developmental assistance to Kirijati after a sudden cancellation of a planned meeting between the New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and President of Kiritatia Tanetija Maamau.

New Zealand contributed $ 58 million in development between 2021 and 2024, according to official data.

“The lack of contact at the political level makes it difficult for us to agree on joint priorities for our development program and ensure that it is well targeted and brings good value for money,” the Peters Office statement said. As a result, New Zealand will review all developmental collaboration with Kiritat.

Peters said he was informed that Maamau could not accommodate him just a week before the planned meeting.

Ruth Cross Kwansing, a member of Parliament from Kiritatia, denied that her country tried to demolish New Zealand. In the post on Facebook, she insisted that the cancellation of the meeting was a consequence of changes to the protocol.

“Although New Zealand has the right to review its program to help kiribatia or any country in development, it is crucial that these types of decisions are based on true developmental processes and are not used as a tool for political pressure,” wrote January 28.

The tensions have grown since Kirijati signed a series of bilateral contracts with China in 2019. Kiritak also interrupted ties with the shedgehogs in the same year as an increasing number of nations of the Pacific Ocean that gravitate to Beijing.

Why are the islands of Cook and other quiet island strategically significant?

The cooking islands, along with 13 other small Pacific countries, excluding New Zealand and Australia, have a strategic value because of their geographical position. They host the population of less than 13 million, but cover 15 percent of the planet area.

Scattered on the huge parts of the Pacific Ocean, these islands are critical for naval routes, military positioning and geopolitical influence.

During the Second World War, the region was the battlefield between Japan and the USA, and the naval base played a key role in the Pacific Theater.

The Chinese Pacific in the Pacific is mostly focused on help projects, investments and infrastructure, including roads, schools and clinics. But this help has grown dramatically, and after witnessing some cuts during the Coid-19, it increased again in Australia, and far ahead of New Zealand and the US.

In the midst of criticism that the capture of smaller nations in debt traps through loans, China also switched to a more support offer, according to data from the Lowy Institute.

What does this mean for the balance of power at a global level?

The proposed strategic agreement on the islands of China-Cook comes due to growing competition for influence in the region between China on the one hand, and the US, Australia and New Zealand on the other.

The Solomon Islands Security Agreement followed his decision from 2019 to give up the acknowledgment of Taiwan and instead recognizes Beijing as the only legitimate cinema.

Similarly, Kiritak also transferred her diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2019. Since then, China has funded various infrastructure projects in Kiribati, including road improvements and solar energy installations. In January 2020. The Kiritak also joined the Chinese initiative for belts and roads.

The US, meanwhile, have also tried to enhance – setting the embassies in Giggling, tongaWho,, Cook the islands and niue in the past two years.