Cook Islands Deal with China on Seabed Mining Spurs Protest

A strategic partnership deal between China and the Cook Islands spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties, a document released by the Pacific island nation's government showed.

Western nations that traditionally held sway in the region have become increasingly concerned about China's plans to increase influence after Beijing signed defence, trade and financial deals with Pacific countries in the last three years.

Amid domestic criticism of lack of transparency, the government unveiled the action plan for the deal on Monday in the Cook Islands, in response to calls from New Zealand, which had not been consulted, despite constitutional ties.

"This does not replace our longstanding relationships with New Zealand, Australia, and others, but rather complements them, ensuring that we have a diversified portfolio of partnerships," Prime Minister Mark Brown told the Cook Islands parliament.

"We are strengthening economic diplomacy through initiatives like our comprehensive strategic partnership with China," he added, pointing to opportunities on offer in areas such as trade, infrastructure, and ocean resources.

Opposition has grown in the Cook Islands to any threat its pacts with China pose to close ties with New Zealand, and Brown's government faces a no-confidence vote in parliament due after