Australia, New Zealand and the United States have raised concerns about the security situation in the Pacific region after China signed an agreement with the Solomon Islands that includes defense assistance.
The Solomon Islands leader added that the deal was not aimed at traditional allies, but “rather at our own domestic security situation.”
He did not disclose the terms of the pact, but insisted that it was concluded “with eyes wide open, guided by our national interests.”
Chinese warships and troops
New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaya Mahuta also expressed her disappointment with the deal.
In addition, the pact became known a few days before the visit to the Solomon Islands of US Under Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell for high-level talks.
These conversations are expected to be related to US concerns over escalating military presence Decembercinchona in the region.
The United States has announced that it will reopen its embassy in the Solomon Islands, which has been closed since 1993.
According to a leaked draft agreement vetted by the Australian government, the agreement provides that Chinese warships will be able to moor on the islands, and this Beijing can send security forces “for the maintenance of public order.”
Numerous social unrest has taken place in the Solomon Islands in recent years.
In November, the Australian government sent its defense forces to quell bloody riots in the capital, Honiara, after protesters stormed Parliament in an attempt to overthrow Sogaware.
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that the final pact retained the “maintenance of public order” clauses.
“Australia’s worst foreign policy failure”
Australian Foreign Minister Maris Payne and Pacific Minister Zed Ceselya called the recently signed deal “deeply disappointing” and said they were “troubled by the lack of transparency with which this deal was designed.”
“Our enduring point of view, even in terms of Australia’s national interests, remains that The Pacific family is in a better position to meet the region’s security needs.“, the joint statement said.
The Australian Labor opposition called it “the worst failure of Australian foreign policy in the Pacific” in 80 years.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is currently running a re-election campaign partly focused on national security, denied that the deal was evidence that his government had soured diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands.
He added that he could not “tell the leaders of the Pacific Islands what they should and should not do.”
However, Morrison said his country would not have “submissive relations” with China, which he said had made “all sorts of promises” to Pacific nations.
“We have always been against China because it is in our interest,” Morrison told reporters on Wednesday.
For her part, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister indicated that her country was “saddened” by the pact signed by the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands already announced early last month that it was developing a security agreement with China.
This was of particular concern to Australia, located just 2,000 km south of the Solomon Islands. In recent years, the country has also seen rising tensions with China.
remember, that you can receive notifications from BBC World. Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don’t miss out on our best content.
