The Opposition demands full disclosure of the agreements Cook Islands government has signed with China, raising concerns about transparency, potential economic dependency and strategic influence.

Cook Islands signed the Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2025-2030 and three memorandums of understanding with China during Prime Minister Mark Brown’s state visit from February 10-14.

The copies of documents reportedly signed in China have been released to the public but have been criticised for lacking details.

Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne says one of the most pressing concerns arising from the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is the “complete lack of financial transparency”.

PM Brown had earlier stated that “no projects or actual engagements” had been signed yet, and that there were “deliberately” few details because “the details will be in any negotiations that take place for potential future projects”.

However, Browne, the leader of the Democratic Party, said: “Nowhere in the agreement specify whether economic and infrastructure projects will be funded through grants, concessional loans, or high-interest commercial loans. This raises alarms about potential financial dependency on China, a strategy that has resulted in economic crises for other Pacific nations, including Tonga and Sri Lanka.”

Browne said the agreement stated “both sides will explore greater trade opportunities, with a view to encouraging trade and investment missions between our two countries in the immediate term”.

“However, financial commitments, interest rates, repayment terms, or the level of government liability involved in such trade and investment arrangements are unclear,” she reiterated.

“Given China’s track record in the Pacific, where nations have been left struggling with mounting debt and little economic benefit, it is imperative that the Cook Islands government immediately disclose all financial obligations under this agreement.

“A responsible foreign policy must ensure that the Cook Islands remains in control of its economic future rather than entering into unclear financial arrangements that could create long-term debt traps.”

The Prime Minister stated earlier that the agreement does not include any borrowing but focuses on cooperation between the two countries in the blue economy, infrastructure and other areas.

He also assured it does not include any security aspects, which New Zealand is wary about after raising concerns that they were not consulted properly as required under their special constitutional relationship with the Cook Islands

Opposition leader Browne said although the agreement does not explicitly mention security cooperation, it includes provisions for joint disaster relief, transnational crime prevention, and maritime cooperation, “which could open the door to deeper Chinese security involvement in the future”.

“While this may appear harmless, history has shown that economic agreements with China often evolve into security partnerships. The China-Solomon Islands Security Pact (2022) began as an economic cooperation agreement but later expanded to include Chinese police and security personnel operating within the Solomon Islands,” Browne said.

“An Opposition-led government would ensure that all security matters remain under full Cook Islands control, prevent any foreign power from establishing security or law enforcement partnerships that could compromise national sovereignty and coordinate all security efforts with New Zealand and Australia, who have long-standing and trusted security partnerships in the region.”

Browne said while foreign partnerships and economic cooperation are essential, “they must be undertaken to ensure transparency, safeguard national sovereignty and maintain regional trust”.

“This agreement, signed without public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny, or engagement with New Zealand, has raised serious concerns about economic dependency, strategic influence, and the future direction of the Cook Islands’ foreign policy.

“The failure to consult New Zealand directly contradicts the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration, which commits both nations to mutual consultation on significant foreign policy decisions.

“This oversight damages diplomatic trust and regional cohesion, prompting serious concerns from New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who has long advocated for stronger Pacific partnerships to prevent foreign influence from undermining regional security.”