Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown faces a growing backlash against his plans to strengthen ties with China, including a vote of no confidence in his leadership.
The Cook Islands News reports plans for a protest and parliamentary test of Mr Brown's support on Monday, when parliament sits for the first time in 2025.
Mr Brown is currently in China, where he plans to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with the superpower.
The prime minister insists the tie-up, which has not been released, is an economic agreement - without a security dimension that might trouble Australia and New Zealand - which will help his country's fisheries, maritime transport and deepsea mining industries.
However, the deal has already caused a diplomatic rift with New Zealand.
New Zealand enjoys a special status with the Cook Islands and affords its citizens freedom and movement and many benefits of New Zealand citizenship, including passports.
However, Foreign Minister Winston Peters believes Mr Brown failed to consult with Wellington, as it has promised to do.
The deal has also alarmed opposition parties in the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands United party leader Teariki Heather said Mr Brown needed to apologise over his handling of the deal or he would push ahead with a no-confidence motion.
"He has handled the situation badly. He has to step down graciously but if he doesn't, I'm putting in a no confidence vote in Parliament," Mr Heather told the Cook Islands News.
Opposition Leader Tina Browne told Pacific Media Network the spat over this treaty came after a shelved plan for Cook Islands to start issuing its own passports, which also enraged New Zealand.
"The lack of consultation, firstly, on the passport and then to say 'we'll let you know what is in the agreement with China once it's signed', that's an insult," Ms Browne said.
"That's sort of dictating from the top - it's not consultation with the people."
In a Facebook post, Mr Brown promised more details "in the coming days".
"I know there has been strong interest in the outcomes of this visit, and I want to reassure our people that every conversation is being guided by what is best for the Cook Islands - ensuring that our partnerships support economic growth," he said.
The Cook Islands parliament is finely balanced, with Mr Brown's Cook Islands Party winning 12 seats at the last election, one short of a majority.
Mr Heather - who is "very much concerned" about preserving the Cook Islands relationship with New Zealand - is backing a march on parliament on Monday, which follows a public meeting earlier this week.
New Zealand considers the Cook Islands a "realm" country, offering defence and development support to its former colony.
The two nations have huge people-to-people links, with around 20,000 Cook Islanders living in the archipelago of 15 islands and atolls, but 100,000 with Cook Islands heritage living in New Zealand.
Cook Islands is constitutionally allowed to forge its own foreign relations, but a treaty with Wellington requires them to consult.
