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Multinational military force completes improvements of Cook Islands infrastructure

Xinhua, October 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

A New Zealand-led multinational force, including Chinese, British and U.S. troops, on Thursday handed over new infrastructure facilities built as part of a military exercise in the Cook Islands.

A critical new fuel depot that had been relocated and upgraded as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight was officially presented to officials of the Pacific island nation, the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) said.

Several schools and hospitals that were repaired by a team of military engineers and skilled tradesmen from China, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States were also handed over at a ceremony in the northern atoll of Penrhyn.

"The past six weeks have been an invaluable opportunity to work alongside and learn from our international peers," Captain Andrew Blackburn, Senior National Officer for the New Zealand contingent, said in a statement.

"Tropic Twilight also offered an opportunity to practice the NZDF's capability to deploy alongside other militaries to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)."

Major General Tim Gall, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said the participation of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Tropic Twilight for the first time resulted from a decision by China and New Zealand to increase professional cooperation especially in the area of HADR.

"It was agreed that participation by PLA engineers in Tropic Twilight would be a logical next step in developing the relationship," Gall said in the statement.

New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Nick Hurley said relocating and upgrading the Penrhyn fuel depot had helped avert a potential oil spill.

"The new fuel depot will refuel the Australian-funded Cook Islands Pacific Patrol Boat Te Kukupa, which conducts long-range maritime patrols against illegal fishing in the northern Cooks," Hurley said in the statement.

Exercise Tropic Twilight, a recurring activity conducted from Aug. 31 to Oct. 12 this year, also involved the Armed Forces of French Polynesia.

Around 40 NZDF engineers, plumbers, carpenters and electricians worked alongside 20 military engineers from the United Kingdom, the United States and China in the exercise.

Schools and hospitals were refurbished to address potential electrical hazards to ensure they could better withstand the cyclones that regularly affect the Pacific islands. Endi