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Cook Islands Involved in Trade of Sanctioned Oil to China?

Several tankers suspected of transporting Iranian and Russian oil to China were registered to the Cook Islands, according to an ongoing investigation by AFP. The news agency analyzed sanctions data from the U.S. and UK, and found that at least 34 ships tagged as transporting sanctioned oil in ...

New Zealand “Reluctantly” Extends Aid Ban on Cook Islands Due to China Ties

The government of New Zealand announced it would extend a halt of aid payments to the Cook Islands in reaction to a partnership agreement signed with China earlier this year. This marks the failure of ongoing talks between the two sides. ...

Documents Show New Zealand Unease Over Chinese Warships in South Pacific

By Steven Trask China set off alarm bells in New Zealand when it dispatched powerful warships on unprecedented missions in the South Pacific without explanation, according to military documents obtained by AFP. Beijing has spent ...

New Zealand Spy Service Warns of China Interference

New Zealand's spy service warned Thursday that China is the most active power engaging in foreign interference in the country, including through front organisations. New Zealand faces the "most challenging national security environment of recent times," the country's intelligence agency said ...

New Zealand Foreign Minister Says ‘Outsiders’ Meddling in Regional Summit

By Ben Strang New Zealand's foreign minister said Thursday that foreign influence was threatening to split an upcoming annual summit of South Pacific leaders. Foreign Minister Winston Peters sounded the warning as the region's top ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

The G20 Summit and the Half-Life of a Joke

When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...

New Zealand Cuts Aid to Cook Islands Over China Deal

New Zealand has paused $18.2 million in development aid to the Cook Islands because of a recent cooperation agreement with China. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on an official visit to Beijing this week, said the small state didn’t consult New Zealand about the “breadth and ...

Cook Islands PM Says China Deals Do Not ‘Compromise’ Sovereignty

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday defended a string of contentious deals with China, saying they did not "compromise" the Pacific island nation's sovereignty. The agreements prompted major donor New Zealand to halt aid funding to close partner the ...

New Zealand Halts Aid to Cook Islands Over China Deals

New Zealand's government halted aid to close partner the Cook Islands on Thursday because of a row over agreements the Pacific island nation struck with China. New Zealand "paused" the payments and would not resume them until the Cook Islands took ...

New Zealand, Phillippines Sign Troops Deal in ‘Deteriorating’ Strategic Environment

By Pam Castro The Philippines and New Zealand signed an agreement on Wednesday allowing the deployment of troops on each other's territory, a move aimed at bolstering security in a "deteriorating" strategic environment. The visiting ...

China Unapologetic After Live Firing Drills off Australian Coast

Beijing's ambassador to Canberra said Friday he would not apologize for surprise Chinese naval drills near Australia that forced dozens of commercial flights to change course. Some 49 flights were forced to divert last week when three Chinese warships announced live firing ...

Cook Islands PM Beats No-Confidence Vote, Slams New Zealand

The Cook Islands prime minister survived a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, blaming "misinformation" from former colonial ruler New Zealand for destabilizing his Pacific country. The parliament voted 13-to-9 against the motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Mark Brown's government, sparked by ...

Cook Islands Strikes Deal With China on Seabed Minerals

The Cook Islands said Saturday it struck a five-year agreement with China to cooperate in exploring and researching the Pacific nation's seabed mineral riches. A copy of the deal—signed during a state visit to China that has been criticized by former ...
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