BBC News
Getty ImagesNew Zealand has accused China of lacking transparency on its plans to attack a partnership agreement.
Mark Brown, the leader of the small Pacific Islands, is visiting Beijing this week to sign the deal this week.
However, New Zealand says it was not properly consulted on these projects, which led to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described as a “controversy”.
Coke Islands relies heavily on New Zealand under a long -standing “Free Association” agreement that provides it with defense and financial support. China’s growing influence in the Pacific has challenged the United States and its allies, who have emphasized for years.
“We appreciate our contribution to New Zealand and we expect the same respect, Brown said at a press conference last week. He was about to travel to China on Monday.
“Disagreement, though difficult, is an indispensable part of international relations, but they should never fully explain our engagement.”
He denied any controversy, saying that “engagement is permanent, respected and open” and that the island Coke has the right to make its way as a self -government country.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two countries are important partners and is ready to work with Coke Islands to “achieve new development”.
“China Coke Island’s relations are not targeted by a third party and should not be subject to any third party, spokesman Go Jiacone said.
Beijing has had diplomatic relations with the islands since 1997 and is one of its development partners.
Under his 60 -year -old deal, Coke Island is ruling in the “Free Association” with New Zealand. The two countries are expected to consult each other on defense and security issues. Brown says a new deal with China will cover sectors, including infrastructure, trade and tourism.
It is expected that deep maritime mining is also part of the deal. Brown believes Mining of precious minerals on the sea floor Cook can be a game changer for the islands, which produces huge economic wealth.
However, this exercise, in which China is an important player, is controversial, and critics believe it will promote climate change – in which the islands are already weak.
Luxon said on Monday that when New Zealand’s “Coke Islands and its people have good relations”, there was no transparency in this matter.
At a press conference, when asked if they would consider giving assistance to the Coke Islands, as it recently did for Keribati because of diplomatic scrutiny, Luxon said he did in the deal. Will wait to see.
Under the Free Association Agreement, Coke Islands can have health care, work and access as citizens of New Zealand – some fear that they may lose if relations between the two countries can be further lost. –
Some people have also been criticized that Brown and his government did not first consult the public about China’s deal – some Tina Brown, who is the leader of the Democratic Party, as “madness” What is stated
He and the opposition’s fellow leader, both Kok Islands United Party, say they have lost confidence in Brown’s leadership.
This is a controversial proposal to introduce a separate passport for Coke Island’s citizens despite its recent U -turn, allowing them to maintain New Zealand’s citizenship. Wellington rejected the project last year.
The island is not the first Pacific on the island of Cook, which has strengthened its relations with China. Island Solomon Signed a security agreement with Beijing in 2022Countries including Vanwatu and Papua New Guinea also have close ties.
