Solomon Islands' Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, defended his nation's deepening security ties with China, dismissing concerns raised by the United States and Australia, reports ABC News on July 17.
Sogavare addressed the criticism during a news conference in Honiara following his visit to China, where he held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials. During the visit, Sogavare signed nine agreements and memorandums, including a police cooperation plan aimed at strengthening law enforcement and security in the Pacific nation.
The move comes after the Solomon Islands switched its allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, causing concerns about a military buildup in the region. The United States responded by opening an embassy in the Solomon Islands. Australia and the United States have expressed concerns about the secrecy surrounding the new police plan, while Sogavare accused them of interfering in the internal affairs of his country. He emphasised that China's support to the Solomon Islands' police force complements existing programs by Australia and New Zealand.
Sogavare asserted that both Australia and the United States should not fear China's involvement in the region. Solomon Islands, with a population of 700,000 and located northeast of Australia, has been a notable success for China's expanding presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare's visit to Beijing was seen as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen mutual political trust, China's Foreign Ministry reports.
Earlier Daryo mentioned that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's recent visit to Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang has heightened the existing rivalry between the United States and China in the South Pacific. During the meeting on July 10, various agreements were signed, covering areas such as policy, economic, and technical cooperation. This development has sparked concerns among Washington and Australia, who are apprehensive about China's growing influence in the region.
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