Australia says it will provide security assistance to the Solomons, asks to cancel the deal with China

Mr. Zed Seselja, Australian Minister of International Affairs and the Pacific – Photo: REUTERS

According to Reuters news agency, on April 13, Zed Seselja, Australia’s minister for international affairs and the Pacific, asked Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands not to sign security agreements with China.

“Solomon should consider it in the spirit of openness, transparency, and in accordance with regional security frameworks,” Seselja said.

Mr. Zed Seselja’s proposal comes in the context of China’s efforts to expand its influence in the Pacific region. A security agreement between China and the Solomons in the region would put Australia on alert.

Australia fears the deal will help Beijing increase its military presence in the Solomons, a country just 2,000km east of Australia.

Reuters cited a draft security agreement between China and the Solomons leaked last month that reads: “The Chinese military is allowed to be present in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, to protect the infrastructure of the archipelago. this island”.

Faced with this situation, Australian Minister Zed Seselja firmly said that Solomon was not a military base stationed by foreign powers.

After meeting with Prime Minister Solomon Sogavare, Mr. Seselja also said Canberra is ready to provide security assistance to the Solomons if it needs it, according to ABC News.

On the Chinese side, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian affirmed Security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands does not target any third parties.

“Australia should respect the sovereignty and independence of China and the Solomon Islands and should not take actions to incite confrontation,” Zhao said.

However, many Australian leaders and experts still expressed doubts about this security agreement. Specifically, Mr. Jonathan Pryke – security expert at the Lowy Institute (Australia) – said that the presence of Chinese military forces would be a red line for Australia.

Meanwhile, Mr. Derek Futaiasi – a doctoral student at the Australian National University – said Australia’s control in the Pacific was threatened and challenged.