Salomonen

[Schneemann]

The deal that shocked the world: inside the China-Solomons security pact

A secret agreement that expands Chinese influence over Solomon Islands has now been signed. How did it come about, and what does it mean for the region? [...]

Chatter surfaced among the political class in Honiara that China and Solomon Islands were negotiating a security agreement which could allow Beijing to send military and police personnel to its new Pacific ally, and base naval vessels on the islands.

If the rumours proved to be true, it would be the first known bilateral security agreement between China and a country in the Pacific, a region that has become the centre of a geopolitical and strategic tug of war between China and the US and Australia in recent years. And if Australia’s gravest fears were realised, such an agreement could also allow China to establish a military base less than 2,000km from its eastern border. [...]

A senior Chinese official told the Guardian: “We are not interested in building a naval base here in Solomon Islands.” Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, appeared convinced on Wednesday, saying Sogavare had “made it very clear that they are not accepting of any [military] base in the Solomon Islands. They are not.” [...] Those fears are backed up by a reportedly leaked letter published on News.com.au on 7 April that raised concerns that China might have found a site for a potential base on Isabel Province. The letter, said to be from the president of Avic International Project Engineering Company – a Chinese state-owned company – to Isabel Province’s former governor said the company had “intent to study the opportunity to develop naval and infrastructure projects on leased land for the People’s Liberation Navy, for the [Isabel] Province with exclusive rights for 75 years.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/a...urity-pact

Schneemann