Defence Minister Peter Dutton has insisted Australia wants a 'strong friendship' with the Solomon Islands despite reports its Prime Minister will invite Chinese forces there. 9News
Mr Dutton was speaking on Today this morning afternewspaper reported Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is likely to install a "strongarm" force.
"We've got Australian Federal Police and troops there at the moment ... We've been a trusted partner for a long period of some time." Mr Dutton said growing Chinese assertiveness in the Pacific was not just a challenge for Australia but for other nations such as Japan and India.
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