By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands News
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown (left), Cook Islands Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tukaka Ama, China's Premier Li Qiang, China's Minister of Natural Resources Guan Zhiou Photo: Cook Islands Office of the Prime Minister
Concerns over China's growing influence in the Pacific, including in the Cook Islands following recent agreements between the two countries, have prompted calls from the Opposition for greater transparency and assurances regarding national security.
The concerns of Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne follow warnings from New Zealand's intelligence chief about China's growing influence in the Pacific.
According to Reuters, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) director-general Andrew Hampton, in a speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington earlier this month, said China's strategy of blending economic and security cooperation in the Pacific could lead to foreign interference and espionage threats.
Hampton revealed he had visited the Cook Islands to share classified intelligence on foreign interference and espionage risks with Prime Minister Mark Brown before the agreements were signed.
He said the SIS would now intensify its monitoring of the Cook Islands' relationship with Beijing.
"With the Cook Islands is developing deeper relationships with other parties, this will necessitate an even stronger focus from my agency on national security risks," Hampton said.
China's embassy in New Zealand rejected Hampton's claims, calling them "totally baseless, all fabrication, and amount to spreading false information," according to Reuters. It also said that relevant agreements with Pacific nations, including the Cook Islands, had been made public and there was no "secret agenda" in its dealings.
However, Cook Islands opposition leader Browne said that comments by the director-general of the Security Intelligence Service regarding the risk of foreign interference and espionage "should not be taken lightly".
"The statement by Mr Andrew Hampton does warrant thoughtful consideration," Browne said. "While we recognise the Cook Islands' sovereign right to engage in economic partnerships, it is equally imperative that our national security and regional integrity are not compromised."
Browne added that while the Opposition supports development-focused partnerships, they must be guided by "transparency, robust scrutiny, and balanced diplomacy".
Cook Islands News contacted Prime Minister Mark Brown and his spokesperson a fortnight ago and followed up last week for a comment on Hampton's claims.
"PM won't be providing any comments regarding these queries (until he's back)," the spokesperson said a week ago.
Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas, who was the acting Prime Minister, was also contacted for comment a week ago. PM Brown is back in the country.
Browne, the leader of the Democratic Party, criticised the Government for failing to provide a "clear public assurance or strategy" in response to Hampton's warning.
"The people of the Cook Islands deserve to know how their interests are being protected amid shifting geopolitical dynamics," she said.
Browne urged the Government to be more open about its approach to geopolitical challenges and ensure national security agencies are prepared.
"The Opposition will continue to monitor this closely and will hold the Government to account in safeguarding both our sovereignty and regional standing," she said.
Cook Islands opposition leader Tina Browne in Parliament. Photo: Cook Islands News
The Cook Islands' visit to China last month, where Prime Minister Brown's team signed a comprehensive strategic partnership deal and other agreements, has strained relations with New Zealand, who expressed concern over a lack of consultation and transparency.
These agreements represent the first time the Cook Islands has entered into a major deal with a country outside of its traditional partners, former colonial ruler New Zealand, with which it shares a special constitutional relationship, and Australia. The agreement centres on economic, infrastructure and maritime cooperation and seabed mineral development, among other areas. It does not include security or defence.
In his speech, Hampton noted that Pacific nations' focus on economic growth and combatting transnational crime had created opportunities for China to forge strategic partnerships in the region.
He added that Beijing aims to create competing regional architectures and expand its influence among Pacific Island countries.
"The People's Republic of China remains a complex intelligence concern in New Zealand," Hampton said. "We think it's important to ensure our Pacific partners are aware of the risks too."
Hampton also reiterated New Zealand's commitment to the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia - despite previous concerns over the Trump administration's approach to Russia.
He said the alliance remained New Zealand's "most long-standing and impactful intelligence-sharing partnership in our history".
"The sharing of Five Eyes intelligence insights has, without a doubt, enhanced the safety and security of New Zealand."
Additional reporting from Reuters.
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
