This content was published on April 13, 2022 – 08:31 April 13, 2022 – 08:31
Sydney (Australia), 13 April (EFE).- Australia has urged the Solomon Islands, a strategic Pacific island nation, to reconsider signing a security pact with China, whose capital Honiara is close to signing with Beijing despite Canberra’s concerns.
The pact includes the ability to send Chinese security forces to maintain order if requested by the ocean nation’s government, according to leaked documents.
“We have respectfully asked Solomon Islands to consider not signing the agreement and to consult with the Pacific family (of countries) in a spirit of regional openness and transparency, which is consistent with our security frameworks in the region,” the Australian minister said for the Said Pacific Zed Seselja today.
Seselja, who has been on a two-day visit to the Solomon Islands since yesterday, noted in a statement that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare recently said Australia was his preferred security partner and promised the Solomon Islands would not serve as a partner would base, military for China or other nations.
However, Sogavare, which changed its foreign policy in 2019 after changing its alliance with Taiwan to recognize China, has also expressed intentions to diversify its security ties with other powers to address various threats such as climate change.
For this reason, the possible signing of this pact raises concerns in Australia, as well as in New Zealand and other island nations, which fear the militarization of the region and have for years seen China as a threat to their influence in the Indo-Pacific island nations. .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison today, commenting on negotiations between Canberra and Honiara, where he dispatched two intelligence chiefs this month, stressed that his government respects the Solomon Islands’ independence and sovereignty in light of this potential pact with China.
“What we have done is make sure they are aware of the risks and security issues that are relevant not only to Australia but also to the islands and nations across the Pacific,” Morrison told reporters.
The Sogavare government’s turn to China has also unnerved the opposition in his country and violent protests last November resulted in three deaths and prompted Honiara to send police officers to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua to claim New Guinea.
Another leaked document indicates that China requested to send weapons and agents to protect its diplomats in Honiara but was denied. EFE
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