The Cook Islands said Saturday it has 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 – which is likely to irk close partner and former colonial ruler New Zealand – showed it covers working together in the “exploration and research of seabed mineral resources”. [...]
New Zealand and its allies including Australia and the United States have been unnerved by China’s growing diplomatic, economic and military influence in the strategically important Pacific.
But Brown has insisted his country’s relations with New Zealand and other partners are not affected by the partnership accord he signed with China.
The Cook Islands has licensed three companies to explore the seabed for nodules rich in metals such as nickel and cobalt, which are used in electric car batteries.
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A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the NZ government noted the agreements. “We will now analyse the contents of these agreements – focusing on the implications they have for NZ, the Cook Islands and the Realm of New Zealand.”
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