Cook Islanders are bracing for potential backlash from a controversial partnership deal with China, which is expected to be finalised any moment now. The planned comprehensive strategic partnership agreement has angered the New Zealand government,

Australia, New Zealand and the US have been moving to counter China’s growing strategic and diplomatic influence in the past three years by striking agreements with nations including Tuvalu, Nauru and Papua New Guinea aimed at shoring up their status as the region’s primary security partners.

The Cook Islands lie halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and are made up of 15 islands and atolls spread over 700 square miles (1.9 million square kilometres)

However, New Zealand says it was not properly consulted over the plans, leading to what Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has described as a "dispute". The Cook Islands is hugely reliant on New Zealand under a longstanding "free association" agreement that provides it with defence and financial support.

Why a deal with China has strained New Zealand’s ties with the Cook Islands - Beijing’s growing influence in the South Pacific has hit the close relationship between Wellington and the Cook Islands

New Zealand has expressed concerns over the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Browns visit to China to sign agreements without prior consultation, despite their constitutional ties. The move has heightened fears