Caught in the contest between China and the west, the Cook Islands asks where its future lies

On a remote stretch of land in the Cook Islands lies a second world war airstrip. Once used as a wartime supply route by American forces, the narrow runway is in dire need of resealing to allow larger tourist jets to land. Leaders on the northern island of Penrhyn have asked New Zealand, Australia and the US to help, but none have come through. Now, they hope China will step in and fund it. "That is the dream," says Penrhyn's executive director, Puna John Vano. "We want to maintain our traditional partners, but if not, we're going to get assistance…