BBC: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Zealand has paused millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over wide-ranging deals that its smaller Pacific neighbour had made with China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wellington, the Cook Islands’ biggest funder, said it was blindsided by the deals that were struck in February, covering infrastructure, tourism, technology and perhaps crucially, deep-sea mineral exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fresh funding will not be considered until the Cook Islands “takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust”, said a spokesman for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NZ$18.2m ($11m; \u00a38m) funding halt comes as concerns grow among US allies, including New Zealand and Australia, over China’s rise in the Pacific<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Funding relies on a high trust bilateral relationship,” Peters’ spokesman said on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “New Zealand hopes that steps will be taken swiftly to address New Zealand’s concerns so that this support can be resumed as soon as possible,” the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cook Islands responded by saying it was “determined to address [the issue] as a matter of urgency”, adding that it “highly values” New Zealand’s development assistance over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Constructive dialogue is ongoing, and the Cook Islands remain committed to engaging closely with New Zealand to understand where their concerns lie and how they can be addressed,” its foreign ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Zealand’s latest move also comes as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on an official visit to China, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peters’ spokesman said he was not worried that Beijing might view the move negatively, noting Wellington’s “special relationship” with the Cook Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n