Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare attends a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, October 9, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
SYDNEY, April 29 – The Solomon Islands have signed a security pact with China because a similar deal with Australia is insufficient, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said, adding his country knows the cost of war and would not engage in militarization Pacific.
Addressing Parliament on Friday, Sogavare made his first public comments since talks with White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell, who was visiting Hoinara days after the security pact with China was announced.
China’s attempts to expand its military influence in the Pacific have put Western allies on high alert, and the security pact with the Solomon Islands has upset Australia’s election campaign. Continue reading
While details of the pact with China have not been disclosed, Sogavare has ruled out a military base, saying it covers domestic police.
Sogavare on Friday said the security deal with China was necessary because an agreement with traditional partner Australia was “inadequate”.
Opposition parties have criticized the government’s secrecy over the terms of the deal with Beijing, and Western allies are concerned it could be a gateway for a Chinese military presence. Continue reading
Australia and New Zealand have warned the pact could disrupt longstanding regional security cooperation. Continue reading
Sogavare said Campbell and a separate Japanese delegation had warned him against allowing China to build a naval base because it was not in the region’s interest. Sogavare, who previously said there were no such plans, said he agreed with the delegations. Continue reading
“We don’t need to be reminded of the cost of war,” Sogavare told parliament.
He said the Solomon Islands would never accept the militarization of the Pacific after the experience of World War II and criticized the United States for not including the islands in funding for post-war reconstruction.
Campbell has agreed to expedite the removal of WWII duds, Sogavare said.
Echoing comments from China’s foreign ministry, Sogavare also criticized Australia’s signing of the AUKUS defense alliance with the United States and Britain last year without consulting the Pacific island nations.
“The AUKUS Treaty provides for nuclear submarines in Pacific waters. I heard about the AUKUS Treaty in the media. One would expect that, as a member of the Pacific family, the Solomons would have been… consulted.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on Friday he spoke to Sogavare the day after AUKUS was announced and raised no objection.
Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Edited by Simon Cameron Moore