China, Solomon Islands Sign Security Deal, Chinese Foreign Ministry Says

The framework pact was recently signed by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, and the Solomon Islands foreign minister, Manele, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters on Tuesday at a regular briefing in Beijing, Reuters reported.

He did not give details of where, or precisely when, the signing took place.

The Australian government is concerned that the pact, details of which have not been made officially public, could be a step towards a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 km from Australia.

The Chinese embassy in Honiara confirmed to the Guardian that the document had been signed.

A draft version of the agreement, leaked last month, sent shock waves across the region over provisions allowing Chinese security and naval deployments to the crisis-hit Pacific island nation.

According to the draft, armed Chinese police could be deployed at the Solomon Islands’ request to maintain “social order”.

Solomon's prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s assurances that he does not intend to allow China to build a military base there has done little to alleviate the concerns.

Earlier on Tuesday the Pacific islands nation was told that China would send officials to the Solomons next month to sign cooperation pacts.

Although the Chinese embassy and Solomon Islands officials had previously initialed the security pact, ministers had not yet signed it.

Last week, Zed Seselja, Australia’s minister for international development and the Pacific, took time out of the federal election campaign to visit Honiara to ask Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare not to sign the framework pact.

The matter is set to become an issue in the Australian election campaign. Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Penny Wong, tweeted: “Despite all of his tough talk, on Scott Morrison’s watch our region has become less secure.”

Comment has been sought from the Australian government.

On Monday, the White House said a high-level US delegation, including Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell, would also travel to Honiara this week to discuss concerns about China, as well as the reopening of a US embassy.

“The broad nature of the security agreement leaves open the door for the deployment of PRC military forces to the Solomon Islands,” US state department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday.

The signing of the pact “could increase destabilization within the Solomon Islands and will set a concerning precedent for the wider Pacific Island region”, he added.

“Deliberate attempts to inflate tensions and mobilize rival camps are also doomed to fail,” Wang, the Chinese spokesperson, said on Tuesday, when asked about the US officials’ scheduled visit.

Security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands is “normal exchange and cooperation between two sovereign and independent countries,” he said.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (R) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspecting honor guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Honiara’s parliament was told by chairman of the public accounts committee and lawmaker for East Honiara, Douglas Ete, that Chinese foreign ministry officials would arrive next month.

 “The PRC foreign affairs is heading to Honiara in the middle of May to sign multilateral agreements and cooperations with the Solomon Islands government,” he said, referring to China.

Ete said the visit meant the two nations would increase cooperation on trade, education and fisheries, but added that he rejected the idea of the Solomons signing a security pact with China to set up a military base.

Sogavare told parliament the proposed security agreement would not include a Chinese military base. His office said it could not confirm which Chinese officials would visit Honiara.