Cook Islands defends China deals after US$11 million New Zealand aid pause

South China Morning Post

20-06-2025

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday defended a string of contentious deals with China, saying they did not 'compromise' the Pacific island nation's sovereignty.
The agreements prompted major donor New Zealand to
halt aid funding to close partner the Cook Islands, citing a 'lack of consultation'.
The Cook Islands has a 'free association' relationship with its former colonial ruler New Zealand, which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence.
Brown defended the Cook Islands' right to engage with international partners such as China.
The deals, signed in February, did not 'compromise Cook Islands' sovereignty,' he said.
The Cook Islands caught New Zealand off guard when it signed a slew of agreements with China covering deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues.