Sun Feb 09 20:32:00 UTC 2025: ## New Zealand Expresses Concern Over Cook Islands-China Deal

**Wellington, New Zealand –** New Zealand has voiced strong concerns over the Cook Islands’ impending signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership with China. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is scheduled to visit Beijing next week to finalize the agreement, a move that has drawn criticism from Wellington for its lack of prior consultation.

A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated that the Cook Islands failed to properly consult with New Zealand regarding the agreement, causing significant concern. The Cook Islands, a self-governing nation with a free association pact with New Zealand, receives substantial budgetary and foreign affairs support from Wellington. New Zealand maintains that it should be consulted on any international agreements with significant strategic and security implications, to assess potential risks to its national interests.

While Prime Minister Brown defended the visit as an effort to expand economic opportunities while safeguarding national sovereignty, New Zealand insists the lack of prior consultation is unacceptable. The deal’s potential implications for regional stability are a key concern, given China’s increasing diplomatic, economic, and military influence in the Pacific. The situation underscores the growing competition for influence in the Pacific region between China and traditional partners like New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

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