China’s Pacific Play: A Critical Look At Its Growing Influence In The Cook Islands

Sun Lee Over the past two decades, China has steadily increased its presence in the Pacific region, with the Cook Islands emerging as a prominent case study. While Beijing touts its engagement as a win–win developmental partnership, closer...

Building momentum for sustainable catchment and lagoon health

The University of Newcastle (UoN), Australia during their water catchment assessments in Rarotonga earlier this month. NES /25071605. As part of the ongoing GEF7-funded Project ENUA (Enhancing Nature’s Unique Areas), the University of Newcastle...

Cook Islands deepens ties with China, angers New Zealand

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in a number of fields. But the deal sparked a diplomatic row between the Cook Islands and New Zealand, with which it has a special...

Cook Islands must chart its own course, while honouring ties with…

The Cook Islands must take bold steps to secure its future while honouring its 60-year relationship with New Zealand, Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana told Parliament on Monday. Addressing the 12th Meeting of the 18th Parliament, Elikana reflected...

Cook Islands PM to face no-confidence vote over China pact

AVARUA: Hundreds of Cook Islanders gathered outside the parliament in Avarua to protest the government’s new strategic partnership with China and plans for a Cook Islands passport. Prime Minister Mark Brown has been forced to defend the deal,...

Cook Islands’ China Shock: A ‘Frog in the Pot’ Moment for Pacific Security 

Last week the Cook Island government’s plan to upgrade its strategic relationship with the People’s Republic of China made global headlines. The deal will open the way for dual-use infrastructure facilities in the Cook Islands. The new deal has...

PM Brown clarifies Cook Islands’ stance on New Zealand relationship

Prime Minister Mark Brown. OPM/24122313 The Government has criticised recent reporting by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) regarding the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand, calling it ‘inaccurate and inflammatory’....

Cook Islands' PM defends accord with China

SYDNEY, Australia — The Cook Islands' head of government on Tuesday defended a new partnership pact with China and urged his country not to depend on handouts from "big brother" New Zealand. Prime Minister Mark Brown said the accord signed with...

Cook Islands PM defends pact with China, urges Pacific nation not to depend on ‘big brother’ New Zealand

The Cook Islands’ prime minister on Tuesday defended a new partnership pact with China and urged his country not to depend on handouts from “big brother” New Zealand. The Cook Islands’ Prime Minister Mark Brown. File Photo: The Office of the Prime...

Cook Islands and China Sign Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Mark Brown and his delegation visit the National Deep Sea Centre in China. (Image credit: OPM) Cook Islands signed a Joint Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with China on Friday, February 14, 2025. The...

Cook Islands PM: China deal complements, not replaces, NZ relationship

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says his country's deal with China "complements, not replaces" the relationship with New Zealand after signing it on Friday. Brown said "The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)...

Cook Islands releases terms of deal with China amid protests about lack of transparency

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. Western nations that...

Cook Islands PM pledges to release details of China deal

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said he would release soon the full details of a comprehensive strategic partnership deal signed between China and his country, which has raised concerns in New Zealand with which it has...

Climate change top priority as UN strengthens Cook Islands partnership

UN Resident Coordinator, Themba Kalua at the Crown Beach Resort in Rarotonga last week. TALAIA MIKA/25021104 Cook Islands welcomed a partnership with the United Nations, whose representatives visited Rarotonga last week, to address critical...

Cook Islands and China ink agreements, details pending

Cook Islands signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents with China following a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday in Harbin, China. CCTV/25021401 Cook Islands signed a number of bilateral...

Cook Islands, China sign comprehensive strategic partnership deal raising concerns in New Zealand

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. File | Photo Credit: AP The Cook Islands said on Saturday (February 15, 2025) that it signed a comprehensive strategic partnership deal with China, a move expected to raise concerns in New Zealand with which...

Cook Islands, China in talks on deep-sea mining

Cook Islands officials yesterday said they had discussed seabed minerals research with China as the small Pacific island mulls deep-sea mining of its waters. The self-governing country of 17,000 people — a former colony of close partner New...

Cook Islands and China sign partnership agreement amid transparency and security concerns

Left to right: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tukaka Ama, Premier of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang, Minister of Natural Resources People's Republic of China Guan Zhiou. Photo...

Cook Islands says in talks with China on deep-sea mining

Cook Islands says in talks with China on deep-sea mining SYDNEY, Feb 14, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Cook Islands officials said Friday they had discussed seabed minerals research with China as the small Pacific island mulls deep-sea mining of its waters....

Aiming to lead Cook Islands to victory in Bali T20 tournament

Well-known Sumner cricket identity Dan Vann is heading to Indonesia this week as the head coach of the Cook Islands women’s team at the Bali Bash.“It’s pretty exciting,” Vann said. “It’s definitely cool to help out a smaller nation.” Among the...