New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Thursday that millions of dollars of financing for Cook Islands would be suspended, while the government examines the “width and content” of agreements with China.
Luxon, who is visiting China for the first time this week, said that Cook Islands were not transparent about the scope of IT strategic partnership with Beijing.
He said, “We have suspended some help money until we can get clarity on those issues,” he said in Shanghai.
According to government data, the funding brake is for the development assistance payment of $ 11 million for the next financial year. New Zealand is the largest provider of financial aid for Cook Islands.
Cook Islands of China Deals
The funding brake is part of large friction between New Zealand, Australia and Chhoti Pacific Island countries that are contacting with China partnership agreements because Beijing works on expanding its impact in Pacific.
In February, Cook Islands surprised New Zealand by signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China on deep sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues.
The agreement did not include security cooperation, but it allowed more China-funded infrastructure projects.
The Cook Islands was part of the New Zealand colony in the east. Today, it is self-government and currently a “free association” relationship is New Zealand, which shares a military and passport. New Zealand therefore provides budgetary assistance to Cook Islands, and advises on foreign affairs and defense.
Cook Islanders can work so independently and live in New Zealand, which can increase security concerns after an agreement with China.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that “both New Zealand and Cook Islands are important partners of China,” saying that the strategic partnership agreement was not intended to oppose New Zealand.
“China-Kook Islands cooperation targets any third party, nor should it be intervened or constrained by any third party,” Beijing said.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said in an agreement with Beijing in February that “” did not replace our long -term relations with New Zealand, Australia and others, but complemented them, ensuring that we have a diverse portfolio of partnership. “
New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon is to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.
New Zealand wants more ‘trust’
The funds under consideration have been part of a large fleet of $ 116 million (€ 101 million) under its Free Association Agreement in the last three years under its Free Association Agreement and the assistance prepared for health, education and tourism sectors.
A spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Pater said on Thursday that the agreements of Cook Islands with China demonstrated “a gap for governments bet”, which requires a special relationship with our special relationship. ,
The spokesman’s statement said, “New Zealand has a TheSerefore Hasis Payments and therefore don’t consider important new funding” unless the Cook Islands government “takes concrete steps to fix the relationship and restore confidence,” the spokesman’s statement said.
Edited by: ZAC Crellin
