Description: The Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Chinese government that would see the islands cooperate with China on trade, tourism, education, seabed mining, infrastructure, fisheries and disaster management. The agreement has raised concerns with the islands closest ally New Zealand as recent ambitions show political will from the Cook Islands for secession. Protests were held in the capital Avarua opposing the China deal and requesting to remain in a free association bilateral relation with New Zealand. The agreement comes to light in a sensitive time especially with China enlarging its presence and expanding its footprint in the Indo – Pacific region.
Impact: China has started to deduce priorities in the Indo – Pacific where it recently provoked several close encounters with the Philippines and Australia. The agreement with the Cook Islands is aimed at tapping the islands mineral rich seabed which is integral to Chinese global production ambitions especially in context of the ongoing trade war with the US. The importance of the agreement couldn’t be undermined as China would aim to impose its regional and global geopolitical interests on such fragile and sensitive areas of international relations such as those between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.