alice wilkins, a new zealand reporter significance of the cook islands. de pacific island it was a teenthe us, china and australia.— and australia. these pacific islands i between - and australia. these pacific islands i between the - and australia. these pacific islands i between the us, l and australia. strategic j strategic in j strategic in terms 7 strategic in terms of been strategic in terms of defence. we have seen china seek to increase its influence terms of age, diplomacy in terms of age, diplomacy and more. it was involved in a in terms of age, diplomacy and more. it was dollar d in a in terms of age, diplomacy and more. it was dollar upgrade in ”10304353; ' cook islands. 2022, we signa 7 7 sign a security . : sign a securityjpact saw china sign a security pact with the solomon islands, which saith tbs éfilfimfifl l=lamzi= fihlth ' international concern sparked international concern and commentary. new zealand at that point, when that was and commentary. new zealand at that poi said 'hen that was and commentary. new zealand at that poi said it in that was and commentary. new zeala

a plan to issue separate passports has now been put with me is alice wilkins, a new zealand reporter . in 1965 the cook islands became self—governing in free association with new 77777lq§r¢auy77777 basically means 7 basically means the 7 basically means the cook which basically means the cook islands responsible for its islands is responsible for its affairs at home and on the own affairs at home and on the global stage, own affairs at home and on the globalstage, but own affairs at home and on the global stage, but it is cook —— global stage. but it is gggga, ....a.7a-.....7 cook globalstage,. but it is desist—re— . ....... cook island hold it's cook island citizens hold new zealand passports and have there is free full citizenship. there is free and travel between the two and easy travel between the two cook alan have nations, cook. alantjudge have to new hospitals access to new zealand hospitals and new zealand some and new zealand has some financial support commitments to the cook islands. that is we saw play out in something we saw play out in the covid pandemic. the wake of the