Cook Islands, China to sign strategic partnership amid local backlash

The Cook Islands is set to finalize a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China, which has sparked outrage from New Zealand due to a lack of consultation, as required by their constitutional relationship. Prime Minister Mark Brown is currently in China for this historic visit, the first by a Cook Islands leader in a decade, where he is expected to sign the agreement encompassing economic cooperation in fisheries, maritime transport, and deep-sea mining. Critics, including Cook Islands politicians and New Zealand officials, express concern over the implications of the deal and the perceived insult of not being informed about its contents prior to signing. The Cook Islands government maintains that the partnership will support economic growth and enhance collaboration in marine research and sustainable aquaculture. The agreement is seen as a significant move for the Cook Islands to strengthen ties with China, but it raises questions about regional dynamics and relations with New Zealand. As the signing approaches, the Cook Islands government faces internal and external pressures regarding the implications of this partnership.