Marise Payne says other members of the ‘Pacific family’ share concerns but she rejects claims her government ‘dropped the ball’ in the region
On Thursday a key adviser to the premier of the most populous province in Solomon Islands alsopersonnel to quash democratic dissent and hold power for years to come.Australia had been dealing with security developments “consistently for some time”, including discussions about China’s desire to establish a security presence in the region, she said.
“It’s important to acknowledge that that is a Pacific family security response that worked, that was immediate, that addressed the needs of the Solomon Islands,” Payne said. When asked late on Wednesday whether Beijing planned to disclose the whole treaty, a Chinese foreign ministry official said the two countries would “act in accordance with international customary practice on the basis of bilateral consultation”.
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