Cook Islands China deal riles allies as West’s grip loosens

The Cook Islands can be small, but the ambitions of its leader are powerful.

A range of agreements Prime Minister Mark Brown signed with China without consulting the public or New Zealand – an ally to which the cooks are closely linked – has caused increasing irritation and concern.

The agreements are the first of its kind with a country that is not a traditional ally. They cover infrastructure, the creation of ships, tourism, agriculture, technology, education and, perhaps above all, mineral exploration on the high seas.

Brown says that his decisions will be based on the “long -term interests” of the Cook Islands, which are distant, rich in resources and vulnerable to climate change.

Not everyone agrees with him. The new large -scale agreements with Beijing led to demonstrations against Rarotonga – the largest Cook island – and a vote of non -confidence against Brown in Parliament, which he survived earlier this week. They also worried Australia, another powerful ally.

New Zealand said that it was “blinded” by the China agreements, but Brown thinks that her country is independent and does not need to consult Wellington on issues that, they say, do not worry them.

However, he tried to reassure Australia and New Zealand that agreements with China do not replace their relations. But the apparent snobs arrive at a time when the influence of the West on the Pacific seems to be loosening.

The boom of China in the Pacific is not new. Whether it is a security agreement in the Solomon Islands or to provide medical services to Tonga, the presence of China in the region has increased. And the United States and its allies have made a constant effort to counter this.

But now there is a new dynamic at stake while the Trump administration increases relations with allies such as Ukraine and seems more and more unpredictable.

The Cook Islands have known what is called a “Free Association” relationship with New Zealand, a former colonizer since the 1960s-which means that Wellington helps questions such as defense and foreign affairs, and that the Icelanders of Cook hold the citizenship of New Zealand.

The two countries are very close. There are around 15,000 islanders of cooking living in the island nation of the Pacific, but up to 100,000 live in New Zealand and Australia. Culturally, Cook Māori island – which constitutes the majority of the population – is also closely linked, but distinct from the New Zealand Maori.

The agreements with China are not the only sign that Brown wants to move away from New Zealand, which has worried. He recently abandoned a proposal to introduce a passport of the Cook Islands following a public outcry.

“”[The relationship with NZ] Connect us politically and connects us to our brothers and sisters of Aotearoa [the Māori word for New Zealand] – They left our banks to sail to Aotearoa. We have to remember this, “said Cook Islane Jackie Tuara in a recent demonstration against Brown agreements with China.

In a nation that is not used for demonstrations of enormous protest demonstrations, several hundreds of people gathered outside the parliament in Rarotonga, holding signs that said: “Stay connected with NZ”. Others praised their New Zealand passports.

“Let us resume in partnership with countries that have the same democratic principles as we are a democratic nation, right?” Said Ms. Tuara. “We do not want to see our lands and our oceans sold to the most offender. These resources are for us – for our children, for their future.”

But for all those opposed to the recent Brown movements of New Zealand, there are many cooking islets that support it.

The specialist of China Philipp Ivanov, in apparent agreement with the Prime Minister, said that “the nations of the Pacific Island have their own agency, their own motivations and their own capacities”.

He thinks that recent developments in the Cook Islands are “part of this little game that happens between Australia and China and New Zealand in the Pacific. It is a Whack-A-Mole game.”

Although the United States has long been a dominant force in security and the military in the region, China has tried to strengthen its links with small but strategic Nations of the Pacific Island thanks to aid, infrastructure and security agreements.

In response, the United States and the United Kingdom have strengthened their diplomatic presence in the region. Australia has also shown that it will redouble its support. But it is not known to what extent the American president Donald Trump will continue the commitments of his predecessor in the region to counter China – and Beijing takes advantage of it.

Last week, the flying planes between New Zealand and Australia were diverted after China has carried out military exercises involving living fire. Australia and New Zealand followed the three Chinese warships which made their way on the eastern coast of Australia in what experts say they are an unexpected escalation and spectacle.

“It is a fairly effective way to test the diplomatic response in the bilateral relationship of Australia-China and New Zealand-China, and what the United States is ready to say in defense [of its allies]”Explains defense analyst Euan Graham, of Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

“It also argues that in the game of figures, China will always be ahead of small countries with smaller navies and that the Australian navy is a historic hollow.”

China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, told national broadcaster that Beijing’s actions had been appropriate and that he would not apologize for this.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wanted to emphasize that no international laws were raped and that the exercises were carried out in international waters. Indeed, many have pointed out that Australia and its allies often sail in warships through the Southern China Sea.

“I would see it like China that wanted to capitalize on the chaotic effect Trump has currently,” said Mihai Sora, director of the Pacific Islands program at Australia Lowy Institute. “China takes advantage of this moment [say]Look at Australia, you are actually alone. Where are the United States in all of this? “”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Penny Wong, admits freely “We are in a permanent competition in our region, is reality”.

Speaking of warships last week, the Australian government was trying to reassure the public about China’s intentions, while meant the Australians that everything is in hand. It is not a coincidence when Australia heads for a federal election in the coming months.

“”[Opposition leader Peter] Dutton comes from this context of national security and domestic affairs, so the government does not want to give it an air to criticize work, “says Philipp Ivanov.” Being weak on China would be disastrous for them, given what is happening in the United States and taking into account our own elections. “”

But this also highlights the dilemma with which the part of the world is confronted.

“Canberra will dispute each movement that Beijing tries to make … and this reflects the fact that Canberra and Beijing have divergent strategic interests,” said James Laurenceson, director of the Australian-China Relations Institute at the Sydney University of Technology.

But, he adds, they also have “huge common points” – China is the largest trading partner in Australia – and New Zealand – for example.

“So you must be able to mount these two horses at the same time.”

It’s not an easy relationship – it’s never. The biggest surprise is that of the United States, a traditional ally.

Although many in the Trump administration still describe China as a serious threat, the American allies do not know what to expect from Washington-Beijing’s relationship.

And now, while Trump threatens steel and aluminum prices and withdrawal from foreign aid, Australia feels more isolated than ever. The recent activity of Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea is used to highlight this isolation.

“I would not consider them as military acts, as much as political acts using military equipment,” explains Mr. Ivanov.

“I think the political act is to say, look, we can do it when we want it. You can’t do anything about it, and the United States does nothing because it is busy demolishing the global system.”