Pacific Nations Voice Concerns On Developing Ties Between China And The Solomon Islands

 

The Guardian: Solomon Islands denies policing deal with China poses ‘threat’ to Pacific security  

Statement comes after US, Australia and New Zealand expressed concerns about new agreement with Beijing 

Solomon Islands has said that its policing pact with China poses no “threat” to the Pacific, rebuking western powers that raised fears the deal could inflame regional tensions. 

Prime minister Manasseh Sogavare inked a raft of deals during a trip to China this week, including an agreement allowing Beijing to extend its police presence in the developing Pacific nation until 2025. 

The US, Australia and New Zealand have expressed unease about the policing “implementation plan”, urging Beijing to soothe concerns by releasing more details. 

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Pacific Nations Voice Concerns On Developing Ties Between China And The Solomon Islands  

Solomon Islands signs China policing deal in upgrade of ties -- CNN  

China signs pact with Solomon Islands to boost cooperation on 'law enforcement and security matters' -- AP  

Solomon Islands PM Sogavare insists China has no strategic interest in Pacific after new police pacts signed -- ABC News Australia 

Australia raises concern over Solomon Islands policing plan with China's top diplomat -- Reuters  

Australia calls on China, Solomon Islands to 'immediately' publish new policing deal, as Sogavare praises 'visionary' Xi -- ABC News Australia

China Says Solomon Islands Security Pact Has Been Signed

 

VOA: China: Security Agreement with Solomon Islands Officially Signed  

China says it has officially signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands. 

The deal has raised concerns among observers in Australia, the United States and other countries. They are concerned about China’s growing influence in the South Pacific Ocean area. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin spoke to reporters about the agreement Thursday in Beijing. He said the agreement was recently signed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele.  

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China Says Solomon Islands Security Pact Has Been Signed  

China says Solomon Islands security pact signed; critics knock Morrison government -- Breaking Defense 

U.S. concerned after China says it signs security pact with Solomon Islands -- Reuters  

China Signs Pact With Solomon Islands Despite US Warning -- NDTV  

China signs controversial security pact with Solomon Islands as it eyes first military foothold in the South Pacific -- Daily Mail  

US officials heading to Solomons over China pact worries -- AP  

Solomon Islands becomes unlikely epicenter of U.S.-China competition -- Axios

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Says It Will Not Allow China A Military Base

The Diplomat: Solomon Islands Says It Will Not Allow China Military Base 

A draft security deal raised alarm in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is trying to assuage those concerns. 

Seeking to counter international fears over its new security alliance with China, the Solomon Islands said Friday it won’t allow China to build a military base there. But that insistence will do little to ease concerns about the pact from the nation’s traditional partners, including New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. 

The leader of neighboring Micronesia added his voice to those expressing trepidation by invoking the bloody battles of World War II and warning that the pact could again see the South Pacific region become a battleground for much larger powers.  

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Update #1: Solomon Islands won't allow Chinese military base, says PM's office (Reuters)  

Update #2: Solomon Islands says China security deal won't include military base (AP)  

WNU Editor: It looks like this treaty has a lot of opposition in the Solomon Islands .... Riot police guard Solomon Islands parliament after China security deal (1News).

China And Solomon Islands Draft Secret Security Pact

Li Keqiang, left, the Chinese premier, and Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands reviewing an honor guard during a ceremony in Beijing in 2019. (AP)  

DNYUZ/New York Times: China and Solomon Islands Draft Secret Security Pact, Raising Alarm in the Pacific 

SYDNEY, Australia — A leaked document has revealed that China and the Solomon Islands are close to signing a security agreement that could open the door to Chinese troops and naval warships flowing into a Pacific Island nation that played a pivotal role in World War II. 

The agreement, kept secret until now, was shared online Thursday night by opponents of the deal and verified as legitimate by the Australian government. 

Though it is marked as a draft and cites a need for “social order” as a justification for sending Chinese forces, it has set off alarms throughout the Pacific, where concerns about China’s intentions have been growing for years. 

“This is deeply problematic for the United States and a real cause of concern for our allies and partners,” Charles Edel, the inaugural Australia chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said on Friday. 

Read more .... 

 

China And Solomon Islands Draft Secret Security Pact  

Solomons confirms security talks with China; Australia and New Zealand concerned -- Reuters  

Solomon Islands confirms China security draft, alarming Australia -- BBC  

Australia, New Zealand concerned over Solomon Islands' security talks with China -- CNA  

Australia alarm over China security deal with Solomon Islands -- Al Jazeera  

China Supports Solomon Islands in Maintaining Social Order -- Reuters  

Chinese draft security deal with Solomon Islands didn’t blindside Australia, Morrison says -- The Guardian  

Australia and New Zealand concerned over security pact that could see Chinese troops posted to the Solomon Islands -- SKY News 

Saying China ‘bought’ a military base in the Solomons is simplistic and shows how little Australia understands power in the Pacific -- ABC News Australia  

Solomon Islands reassures an anxious Australia as it works on a China security deal -- CNN

Why Does The Solomon Islands Want A $100 Billion Loan From China? And How Can They Repay It?

ABC News Online: Solomon Islands discussed $US100 billion loan from Chinese businessman, according to leaked letters

Documents leaked to the ABC reveal the Solomon Islands Government discussed a $US100 billion ($151 billion) loan from a Chinese businessman — an amount of money almost 77 times the Pacific nation's GDP.

Solomon Islands Finance Minister Harry Kuma has confirmed that the leaked letters showing him in discussions about a possible loan are authentic.

"Yes, the letters are real," he told the ABC in a message.

"I am, however, disappointed that I have not received an [advice] on the proposal from my officers when the matter was put on trial in the media."

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WNU Editor: The Solomon Islands Finance Minister wanted to receive an 11% commission for negotiating this deal. Beyond the greed of one finance minister, to say this entire discussion is insane is an understatement.

Solomon Islands MPs Say China And Taiwan Offered Huge Bribes

The Guardian: China and Taiwan offered us huge bribes, say Solomon Islands MPs

Politicians say they were offered hundreds of thousands of dollars for their support before country switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing.

Solomon Islands politicians allege both China and Taiwan offered bribes of hundreds of thousands of dollars to gain their support during a diplomatic row that rocked the country earlier this year.

In September the prime minister of the Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, formally severed ties with Taipei and established relations with Beijing, ending the country’s 36-year relationship with Taiwan.

The decision had reverberations around the world, incensing US senators, outraging the Taiwanese, influencing Kiribati to also abandon Taiwan less than two weeks later, and causing headaches for Australia at a time when Beijing’s influence in the Pacific appears to be expanding. Now, just 15 countries recognise Taiwan.

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WNU Editor: Welcome to how the real world operates. It is always about the money.

A Chinese Military Base In The Solomon Islands?

The Telegraph: Fears of military build-up as China secretly leases entire island in South China Seas

The government of the Solomon Islands has reached a secretive deal with a Chinese company with close ties to the Communist party that grants it exclusive rights to develop Tulagi, once the seat of British colonial rule in the Pacific archipelago.

The confidential arrangement has alarmed residents and raised fears that Beijing could be planning to use the tiny territory for future military rather than just commercial purposes.

Tulagi, which has a protected deepwater harbour, has long been viewed as a strategic outpost. Japan occupied the island during World War 2 in 1942 before it was seized back by the US marines in a fierce battle.

China extended its reach last month after it persuaded the Solomon Islands and the Pacific nation of Kiribati to switch formal diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing, as it seeks to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region while undermining the US and its allies’ strategy there.

A copy of the “strategic cooperation agreement” which sets out a renewable 75-year lease was granted to the China Sam Enterprise Group, a conglomerate founded in 1985 as a state-owned enterprise, according to the New York Times, which obtained a copy.

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Update: China signs deal to 'lease' Pacific island in Solomons (AFP)

WNU Editor: Why keep the deal secret? In exchange for a lot of money the Solomon Islands government basically gave a strategic island with a deepwater harbour to the Chinese for 75 years (that can be renewed for even longer). So why the concern? This island and harbour has no commercial value to the Chinese, but it has tremendous value as a base for Chinese warships and other military assets.