China and the Solomon Islands have officially signed a controversial security deal, raising concerns for Australia, New Zealand and the US. jekearsley 9News READ MORE:
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin tonight said Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele, officially signed a security agreement "the other day". No specific date was given.
"We welcome recent statements from Prime Minister Sogavare that Australia is Solomon Islands security partner of choice, and his commitment that Solomon Islands will never be used for military bases or other military institutions of foreign powers." "His government was warned of this security pact in August and he hasn't even bothered to send the Foreign Minister to the Solomon Islands to raise concerns on behalf of all Australians."
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the agreement could destabilise the Solomon Islands and would set a concerning precedent for the wider Pacific region. A file photo shows Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare review an honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2019.
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