According to a report by the BBC on the 19th, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to suspend economic aid to the Cook Islands due to Prime Minister Brown signing a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in February, prompting concerns regarding national security.

The Cook Islands, located in the South Pacific, have long maintained a friendly relationship with New Zealand and received economic assistance. However, Brown's signing of the agreement during a visit to Beijing in February has stirred considerable controversy. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Peters confirmed on the 19th that aid of NZ$18.2 million (approximately NT$321 million) was suspended in early June, emphasizing that the Cook Islands must take concrete measures to restore bilateral relations and rebuild trust before aid can be reinstated.

In the past three years, New Zealand has provided a total of NZ$194 million (approximately NT$3.43 billion) in aid to the Cook Islands. While the Cook Islands possess independent diplomatic authority, they have historically maintained a "free association" framework with New Zealand, requiring consultations on major issues of security, diplomacy, and defense. However, the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" allows the CCP to support infrastructure projects in deep-sea mining, trade, tourism, and education, highlighting its intent to expand regional influence, which has heightened New Zealand's vigilance.

As Brown did not consult various stakeholders beforehand, this pro-China agreement not only raised doubts within New Zealand but also provoked backlash from locals. Nevertheless, the Cook Islands recently released goodwill, emphasizing the importance of their relationship with New Zealand and hope to restore cooperation soon.