Cook Islands to seal partnership with China as NZ bristles

The Cook Islands prime minister will agree on a plan for a strategic partnership with China on a state visit starting Monday, his office has confirmed, despite a public rebuke from close partner New Zealand.

Prime Minister Mark Brown will lead a delegation to China on a five-day visit during which the two sides will seal a Joint Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, his office said.

The trip is going ahead in defiance of a warning from New Zealand that it should be consulted on international agreements that have significant strategic and security implications.

China is vying for diplomatic, economic and military influence in the strategically important Pacific region, challenging the historic sway of the United States, New Zealand and Australia.

"This visit is about expanding economic opportunities while ensuring our sovereignty and national interests remain at the forefront," the Cook Islands prime minister said in a statement Wednesday.

"Our approach to foreign policy is clear -- we engage openly and transparently to secure the best outcomes for our people," Brown said.

The Cook Islands, a self-governing South Pacific nation of about 17,000 people, has a "free association" agreement with New Zealand, which provides it with budgetary support and help on foreign affairs and defence.

Under the agreement with New Zealand, of which it was once a dependent territory, the Cook Islands' people are New Zealand citizens.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country did not "see eye to eye" with the Cook Islands government on a range of issues.

New Zealand cited in particular "the lack of transparency by the Cook Islands in respect of policies and partnerships with other countries which could have significant security implications for the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the wider Pacific family".

Without directly mentioning China, it said Wellington "would expect the New Zealand government to be fully consulted on any major international agreements that the Cook Islands plans to enter into that have major strategic and security implications". 

AFP