BBC News
Getty ImagesNew Zealand has accused the Cook Islands state of being opaque with its plans to reach a relationship agreement with China.
The little Pacific Island world’s head, Mark Brown, is this year making his country’s second always state visit to Beijing in order to sign the agreement.
However, New Zealand claims that it was not properly informed about the programs, which is what Christopher Luxon, the prime minister, has called a “dispute.”
The Cook Islands rely heavily on New Zealand in large part on a long-standing “free relationship” agreement, which provides both defense and financial support. The US and its allies, who have had influence for years, have been challenged by China’s growing affect in the Pacific.
At a media conference last week before his departure, Brown said,” We value our relationship with New Zealand and we expect the exact respect.”
” Disagreements, although hard, are an inevitable part of global relations but they should not determine the entirety of our proposal”.
He has denied any disagreement, saying “engagement has been constant, respectful and available” and that the Cook Islands has the right to build its own way as a self-governing state.
Both China’s overseas ministries acknowledged their importance as partners and that it was prepared to work with the Cook Islands to “achieve fresh development.”
The China-Cook Islands marriage is not intended to offend or been harmed by any third party, according to official Guo Jiakun.
Beijing is one of its development companions and has diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands since 1997.
Under their 60-year-old contract, the Cook Islands is personal governing in “free relationship” with New Zealand. On a number of safety and defense-related issues, the two nations are expected to read on a regular basis. Brown says the new agreement with China may include areas including system, trade and commerce.
Deep deep-sea mining is also expected to be part of the deal. Brown believes that mining valuable minerals on the seabed could be a game-changer for the Cook Islands, creating huge economic wealth.
However, the training, in which China is a key player, is questionable, and critics believe it may intensify climate change- to which the Cook Islands are now vulnerable.
Luxon claimed on Monday that while New Zealand and the Cook Islands had “very good relationships with its people,” there had not been any accountability in this situation.
Luxon said he would rush to see what was in the package when asked at a press conference whether he would consider putting support to the Cook Islands on carry, as it just did for Kiribati due to a political bash.
Some Cook Islanders fear they may lose out on benefits provided by the free association agreement if relations between the two nations turn even worse.
Some people have also expressed concern that Brown and his administration did not consult the consumer before signing the China deal, which Tina Browne, the Democratic Party leader, has called “insane.”
Both she and other opposition head Teariki Heather, from the Cook Islands United Party, say they have lost trust in Brown’s management.
That is despite his recent U-turn on a controversial proposal to introduce a separate passport for Cook Island citizens, while also 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 ties with China. The Solomon Islands signed a security pact with Beijing in 2022, while countries including Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea also have close relations.