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China, Solomon officially signed a security cooperation agreement

China On April 19, it was announced that the country had signed a framework agreement on security cooperation with Solomon Islandsthe move that makes America and allies have been concerned over the years.

China, Solomon officially signed a security cooperation agreement - Photo 1

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) and Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele of the Solomon Islands in Beijing in 2019

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China

According to AFP, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on April 19 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele of Solomon Islands signed a framework agreement on security cooperation.

Mr. Uong did not disclose the detailed content of the agreement or the time and location of the signing ceremony. Spokesman Wang said this was a normal exchange and cooperation between the two sovereign countries, and accused the West of deliberately exaggerating tensions over the treaty.

A draft agreement leaked last month raised concerns in the United States, Australia and its allies that China could deploy its navy and security forces to the Solomon Islands. However, military“>Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands has assured him that he has no intention of allowing Beijing to build a military base there.

After China announced the signing of the agreement with the Solomon Islands, Australia said it was “deeply disappointed”.

“We are concerned about the lack of transparency in the development of the agreement, and note that it has the potential to undermine stability in the region,” according to a joint statement from the United Nations. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja.

Earlier this month, Mr. Seselja went to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, to ask Prime Minister Sogavare’s government not to sign an agreement with China. Canberra fears the deal could help Beijing establish a military presence less than 2,000km from Australia.

Confirmation of the signing of the agreement was also given by China just a day after the US tried to prevent this from happening.

“The nature of this security arrangement opens the door for China to deploy military forces to the Solomon Islands,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on April 18.

Price also added that signing the agreement “could increase instability within the Solomon Islands and would set a worrying precedent for the Pacific Islands region”.

According to Price, a senior White House delegation this week will travel to the Solomon Islands to discuss Washington’s concerns, as well as the reopening of the US embassy in Honiara.

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