The Cook Islands needs trade and investment. Its economy depends on tourism, and, having graduated to “high-income” status in 2020, it is no longer eligible for aid. As Mr Brown sees it, China is part of the solution.

With tensions mounting, we break down what the proposed deal between China and the Cook Islands is all about, why New Zealand is upset and what this means for the region. What is

Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown speaks during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo BEIJING (Reuters) - China is willing to deepen mutual political trust with the Cook Islands,