A leading opposition MP in Solomon Islands is calling for an independent investigation into a contentious shipment of 'replica weapons' brought into the Pacific Island country by China after publicly released US diplomatic cables claimed the guns were likely real.
abc.net.au/news/solomon-islands-china-replica-guns-likely-real-us-cables-say/102811602A leading opposition MP in Solomon Islands is calling for an independent investigation into a contentious shipment of "replica weapons" brought into the Pacific Island country by China after publicly released US diplomatic cables claimed the guns were likely real.
But the Solomon Islands opposition and some civil society activists were deeply sceptical of that claim, and rumours around the shipment have continued to swirl over the last 18 months.that US diplomats in Port Moresby cabled back to Washington at the time saying the weapons seemed to be genuine, citing a source who said the "weapons appeared real in every way, including in weight and mechanics".
"To have this assessment made by a prominent development partner, just begs that question again: were we told the truth? And in the end the truth is what we want to know," he said.
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