Protests broke out in the Cook Islands with opposition to a strategic partnership with China. The agreement, which deals with trade, infrastructure and seabed mining but leaves security issues aside, has raised concerns over the lack of transparency and its implications on decades of relationship with New Zealand.
On Monday, Prime Minister Mark Brown in parliament defends the agreement, citing economic benefits and saying it “complements, rather than replaces” existing relationships with New Zealand and Australia. Yet the failure to seek the consent of New Zealand—because of constitutional ties—has created outrage in the country.
Holding banners with messages such as “Stay connected with New Zealand”, hundreds of protesters marched to the capital, Avarua, while others waved giant replicas of New Zealand passports. Opposition leader Tina Browne said the government was not taking the community and New Zealand sufficiently into the conversation – and it was too secretive. 
Brown said China would offer a one-off $4 million grant to the country of only 15,000 people. The secrecy surrounding the deal has caused Kiwi Deputy Prime Minister to voice his concerns and his government will carefully consider the implications.
The agreement sets aside cooperation in deep-sea mining, hydrography, and cultural relations but sounds an alarm over the security of the sea. Although China supports the Cook Islands’ desire to increase its international profile, the step has rekindled debate over its future diplomatic course.
As the no-confidence vote is scheduled for February 25 over Brown’s government, the political pressure surrounding the deal is likely to intensify in coming days.
