The premier of Malaita province in the Solomon Islands says the United States an...
SYDNEY - The premier of Malaita province in the Solomon Islands says the United States and its regional allies have pledged to develop a deep-sea port and will be invited to patrol its territory, creating a beachhead against increased Chinese investment.
The diplomatic switch has coincided with an investment push from Chinese companies, including a proposed $825 million gold mine and infrastructure development on the island of Guadalcanal led by state-owned China State Railway Group. “We’ve asked the U.S. and Australia to be part of Malaita security so they can look after the province from Chinese developers,” Suidani told Reuters in a phone interview.
“China has different values to the Solomon Islands – this is a Christian province, a democratic one,” Suidani said.China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China had always upheld the principle of “equal, mutually beneficial, open and sustainable cooperation” with Pacific island countries. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was evaluating transport infrastructure projects in the Solomons.
Members of the U.S. Department of Defence, Department of Trade and Department of State also joined the visit, a Solomons parliamentary group heard in September.
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