Australia, US warn Solomon, China says it is ‘bullying’

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison – Photo: REUTERS

“Working with my partners in New Zealand and of course the US, I share America’s red lines on this. We won’t have a Chinese naval base in the area on our doorstep.” , ABC News quoted Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as saying on April 24. However, he did not mention how Canberra would react if Beijing crossed this line.

On the same day, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also warned Solomon must be “really careful” about its security arrangement with China, saying it could affect the island nation’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton accused China of paying bribes to win international deals, which Australia cannot compete with. “If you look at what happens in Africa, where they give bribes, we can’t compete,” Dutton said. He gave no evidence for this allegation.

On April 22, the US delegation on a visit to the Solomons threatened that Washington would “respond accordingly” if Beijing established a military base there. “If steps are taken to establish a permanent military presence, power projection, or de facto military disposition, the United States will express its concerns seriously and respond accordingly,” the statement said. said the group.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Solomon on April 24 called the US warning an act of showing Washington’s bullying and hegemony. Newspaper Global Times China’s security cooperation with the Solomon Islands is in line with international law, on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, the agency said in a statement.

“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and the Solomon Islands have effectively cooperated in many areas that are warmly welcomed by the people,” the Chinese embassy said.