In mid-February, the Prime Minister of the Pacific island nation of the Cook Islands visited China, and the two countries established a so-called “comprehensive strategic partnership,” with the Chinese Communist Party providing a one-time donation of $4 million to the Cook Islands. Although the details of the cooperation were not disclosed by both parties, speculations from the outside suggest that this move by the Chinese Communist Party is in order to gain access to the mineral resources of the Cook Islands.
Upon his return from China, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown stated upon arrival at the airport that the $4 million received will be used for “future projects,” but there are currently “no signed projects,” and “in the coming months or years, there may be some projects that can be formalized.”
While $4 million may be insignificant to the Chinese Communist Party, it represents 1.29% of the Cook Islands’ GDP, a country of about 15,000 people. The World Bank estimates the Cook Islands’ annual export value to be $3 million. The majority of the country’s foreign exchange earnings come from the tourism industry.
Regarding Brown’s visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a routine press conference on February 17 that during Brown’s visit, he and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents, including the “China-Cook Islands comprehensive strategic partnership action plan (2025-2030).”
Guo Jiakun also mentioned that the action plan will provide a roadmap for cooperation between the two countries in areas such as economy, environment, culture, and society, stating that “the cooperation between China and Cook Islands is not aimed at any third party and should not be interfered with by any third party.”
There were discrepancies between the statements from the Chinese Communist Party and the Cook Islands regarding the details of the visit, including the dates of the visit.
On February 5, the Cook Islands Prime Minister’s Office issued a press release stating that Brown visited China for a state visit from February 10 to 14.
However, Guo Jiakun stated on February 10: “At the invitation of the Chinese side, Cook Islands Prime Minister Brown visited China from February 10 to 16 to attend the closing ceremony of the Harbin Asian Winter Games.”
He did not refer to this as a state visit, and Chinese state media did not characterize this visit as a “state visit.”
According to Radio New Zealand, in a statement released last Saturday (February 15), Brown mentioned that the areas of priority cooperation with China include trade and investment, marine science, infrastructure, and climate resilience. The full agreement will be published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration website “in the next few days.”
On the same day, the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority issued a statement indicating that officials from the Authority engaged in high-level discussions with Chinese research institutions during Brown’s visit, discussing “cooperation opportunities,” including exploring seabed minerals.
The statement revealed discussions with China on seabed mineral research and authorization granted to three companies to prospect for manganese nodules rich in metals such as nickel and cobalt, essential materials for electric vehicle batteries.
This statement confirmed previous speculations that the Chinese Communist Party was courting the Cook Islands for the development of the country’s abundant mineral resources.
China has set its sights on the Penrhyn Basin within the jurisdiction of the Cook Islands. It is believed that this area holds significant reserves of cobalt, titanium, tellurium, niobium, and rare earth elements such as yttrium, making it one of the largest deposits in the world. These rare earth minerals are crucial for battery technology.
Most of the basin is located within the Cook Islands’ 2 million square kilometer exclusive economic zone. The United States is seeking to end its reliance on Chinese battery metals and is supporting American deep-sea mining companies to locate and extract these metals.
The development of relations between China and the Cook Islands has drawn high attention from New Zealand.
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, stated that the New Zealand government is aware of the $4 million contract and will “continue to analyze its contents and its implications for the people of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and the Realm of New Zealand. We intend to engage with the Cook Islands government on this in the coming days.”
The spokesperson for Peters told the English Epoch Times, “We note that in multiple public statements by the Cook Islands and the Chinese (CCP) government, they mentioned signing several agreements last week. We expect all of these agreements to be released without delay so that the people of the Cook Islands and New Zealand can clearly understand the substance and scope of the expected cooperation between China and the Cook Islands. Consultation and transparency must be at the core of the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.”
The New Zealand government stated that before Brown’s departure, they had requested to review the agreements he signed with China, but as of now, they have not seen them.
Upon Brown’s return, New Zealand journalists were not allowed into the room during the meeting with the media.
In the statement, Brown expressed that the relationship between the Cook Islands and China “complements, rather than replaces our long-standing relationships with New Zealand and various bilateral, regional, and multilateral partners.”
The Cook Islands, a former New Zealand territory, is currently an independent nation with a free association relationship with New Zealand. Its 17,000 residents hold New Zealand citizenship, and New Zealand provides financial support to the Cook Islands, as well as assistance in diplomatic and defense matters. According to constitutional provisions, defense and security affairs should be discussed mutually.
The way in which Brown’s government handled transactions with China, especially the lack of internal and external consultation, has left some people in the Cook Islands discontent.
On February 18, opposition parties held a protest with over 400 people gathering outside the parliament in the capital of Avarua, holding banners reading “Maintain connections with New Zealand.”
Opposition leader Tina Browne stated, “We do not oppose the government seeking assistance, but when it jeopardizes our sovereignty and relationship with New Zealand, we oppose it.”
A motion of no confidence in Brown and his cabinet has been filed, but due to parliamentary procedures, the hearing will be delayed.
The Brown government will face a parliamentary no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition after February 25.
(This article draws on reporting from Voice of America)