Children fish on a beach in central Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, September 14, 2012. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo
SYDNEY/BEJING – China on Tuesday said it had signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands, a move to increase concerns from the United States and allies Australia and New Zealand over traditionally growing Chinese influence in a region under theirs domination.
The framework compact was recently signed by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing.
He did not specify where and when exactly the signing took place.
Australian officials said it appeared the announcement was made by Beijing ahead of the arrival of White House officials in Honiara.
Canberra is concerned the pact, details of which have not been released, could be a move towards a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Australia.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was “deeply disappointed” and continued to seek further clarity on the terms of the deal, noting that the signing had been announced by the Chinese government.
“We are concerned about the lack of transparency with which this agreement has been developed and realize that it could undermine stability in our region,” she said in a statement Tuesday night.
Australia’s national broadcaster ABC reported that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare would make an announcement in the coming days.
Earlier Tuesday, the Pacific island nation’s parliament was told that China would send officials to the Solomon Islands to sign cooperation pacts next month.
Although the Chinese embassy and Solomon Islands officials had previously initialed the security pact, which would allow Chinese police to protect infrastructure and social order, the ministers had not yet signed it.
Last week Zed Seselja, Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, visited Honiara to ask Sogavare not to sign the security pact. Continue reading
On Monday, the White House said a senior US delegation, including Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell, would also travel to Honiara this week to discuss concerns about China and the reopening of a US embassy. Continue reading
“Deliberate attempts to increase tensions and mobilize rival factions are also doomed to fail,” Chinese spokesman Wang said on Tuesday when asked about the planned visit by US officials.
Honiara Parliament was told by Douglas Ete, chairman of the Public Finance Committee and Legislature for East Honiara, that officials from China’s Foreign Ministry would arrive next month.
“The PRC’s foreign policy travels to Honiara in mid-May to sign multilateral agreements and cooperation with the Solomon Islands government,” he said, referring to China.
Ete said the visit meant the two nations would increase cooperation on trade, education and fisheries, but added that he opposed the idea of the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China to set up a military base.
Sogavare told parliament the proposed security deal would not include a Chinese military base.
Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing; Editing by Michael Perry, William Maclean