Australia views with concern a possible security agreement between the Chinese regime and the Solomon Islands

Australia expressed concern on Friday about a possible security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands that would allow Beijing to establish a naval base in the South Pacific island country and to send its security forces to maintain order if requested by the island state.

Referring to the draft of this pact, which was published the day before on social media: Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton told the Australian television network Nine that the Canberra Executive would be “clearly concerned about the establishment of any military base”.

Dutton added that he would express this concern to the Government of the Solomon Islands, a strategic South Pacific nation located some 2,000 kilometers off the northeastern coast of Australia and which was the scene of clashes during World War II.

The Minister of Defense also stressed that his country and its allies want “peace and stability” in the Pacific and prevent “China's pressure and effort from continuing to deploy in this region.

The agreement, which would result in Australia having a strategic adversary a short distance since World War II for the first time, would propose that the Chinese Navy dock, resupply and make stopovers in Solomon Islands, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

In return, the Honiara Executive can ask Beijing to send armed police, military personnel and other security and armed forces “to help maintain social order and protect the life and property of the population,” the newspaper added.

Commenting on the potential pact, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday told reporters in Sydney that his country will continue to support Solomon Islands and continue to lead the region through development cooperation to ensure it has a “free and open Pacific.”

Without directly mentioning China, Morrison emphasized that while “there are others who may seek to influence and seek some kind of foothold in the region,” his Government is aware of this, although he admits that they are not “completely immune to these risks.”

Australia, which is holding general elections next May, has been a historic partner of the Solomon Islands, which last November was the scene of violent protests recorded the day before calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who in 2019 decided to change his alliance with Taiwan to support China.

Between 1998 and 2003, Solomons were the scene of ethnic disputes between rival armed groups that terrorized the nation, causing more than 200 deaths and thousands of displaced persons.

These clashes forced the deployment between 2003 and 2013 of the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission for Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to pacify the country.

(With information from ÉFE)

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