The Cook Islands may be small but the ambitions of its leader are mighty and his signing of a range of deals with China without consulting the public or New Zealand – an ally to which it is closely tied – has caused increasing irritation and concern.

Growing ties between Cook Islands and China, including a new comprehensive partnership agreement action plan detailed this week, have raised concerns in New Zealand, which has a close constitutional relationship with its tiny Pacific neighbour.

A strategic partnership deal between China and the Cook Islands spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties, a document released by the Pacific island nation's government showed.

The Cook Islands said it has formalized cooperation pacts with China, including an action plan for a comprehensive strategic partnership and an agreement covering exploration for seabed minerals.

Cook Islands deal has implications for Pacific security, but particularly for New Zealand, the United States, and Australia.

(AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The South Pacific country of Cook Islands on Tuesday unveiled the details of a deal with China to boost cooperation on matters including mining seabed minerals, after the pact provoked a rare ...

According to International Relations Study Association(IRSA), on the afternoon of February 14, 2025, during the closing of the 9th Asian Winter Games, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Cook Islands Prime Minister Brown in Harbin,

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown survived on Wednesday a vote of no confidence in parliament brought by the opposition over deals he struck with China that strained relations with New Zealand. Members of parliament voted 13-9 to defeat the motion introduced by the Cook Islands United Party.

New Zealand is facing its own ‘Solomon Islands moment’ over a shock deal between China and the Cook Islands that clears the way for Beijing to build critical infrastructure and a persistent presence in the tiny pacific nation,

Prime Minister Mark Brown says "in due course, we may be informed more about these naval exercises that these countries conduct in international waters off each other's coasts".

The Cook Islands may be small but the ambitions of its leader are mighty. A range of deals Prime Minister Mark Brown signed with China without consulting the public or New Zealand – an ally to ...

In return, Cook Islands must consult New Zealand on any matters that could affect Wellington. Brown’s refusal to show New Zealand officials the text of the China deal ahead of his trip prompted ...