1、2025/6/5 12:26Ramifications of the China-Cook Islands Partnership|Royal United Services Institutehttps:/www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/ramifications-china-cook-islands-partnership1/9COMMENTARYGUEST COMMENTARYRamifications of the China-Cook IslandsPartnershipDr Shubhamitra
2、Das and Dr Rahul Mishra4 June 20258 Minute ReadThe China-Cook Islands Comprehensive Strategic Partnershipdraws the island nation into a rising competition in the paci?cbetween great powers.The Cook Islands,an archipelago with a modest landmass but an extensiveExclusive Economic Zone(EEZ),has emerged
3、 as a focal point for Chinasbroader Paci?c strategy.The recent signing of the Action Plan for aComprehensive Strategic Partnership(CSP)(2025-2030)between the twocountries has triggered geopolitical tensions across the Paci?c.As the US-China rivalry escalates pitting the US and its Indo-Paci?cpartner
4、s on one side and China on the other Beijings deepening strategicengagement with the Paci?c,as signalled by the agreement,causes strategicuncertainties in a region historically perceived as peripheral to great-powerpolitics.Geopolitics Enters the Pacific Island RegionTraditionally,the Paci?cs geopol