Cook Islands signs a five-year seabed mineral exploration pact with China, sparking concerns in New Zealand over transparency, tourism impact, and Pacific ties.

Cook Islands Signs Five-Year Seabed Mineral Exploration Pact with China

Cook Islands Strengthens Ties with China Amid Rising Global Scrutiny

The Cook Islands has formalized a five-year partnership with China to collaborate on seabed mineral exploration and research, a move likely to raise concerns among its traditional allies, including New Zealand.

Key Aspects of the Agreement

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on February 14, outlining cooperation in mineral resource exploration, deep-sea ecosystems research, technological exchange, and logistics support. A joint committee will oversee the collaboration, ensuring progress across these key areas.

Despite the agreement’s focus on research and exploration, the Cook Islands government has clarified that no mining or exploration licenses have been granted as part of this deal.

Balancing Relations with China and New Zealand

The Cook Islands, home to around 17,000 people, maintains a “free association” status with New Zealand, which provides budgetary aid, foreign affairs assistance, and defense support. Cook Islanders also hold New Zealand citizenship.

However, New Zealand has voiced concerns over the Cook Islands’ increasing cooperation with China, particularly citing a lack of transparency regarding agreements signed during Prime Minister Mark Brown’s recent visit to Beijing.

New Zealand and its allies—Australia and the United States—have been closely watching China’s expanding economic and geopolitical presence in the Pacific, with particular focus on strategic agreements such as this one.

The Future of Deep-Sea Mining in the Cook Islands

While the Cook Islands has licensed three companies since 2022 to explore the ocean floor for nickel and cobalt-rich nodules—crucial materials for electric vehicle batteries—the government has yet to approve commercial mining operations. Officials maintain that a final decision will only be made after assessing environmental and economic impacts.

Prime Minister Mark Brown has emphasized that relations with New Zealand and other allies remain intact, despite the growing economic ties with China. However, as China deepens its influence in the Pacific, geopolitical tensions are likely to intensify.

The post Cook Islands’ China Pact on Seabed Minerals: What it Means for Tourism and New Zealand appeared first on Travel And Tour World.