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China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact as US warns of regional instability
- Beijing says agreement ‘does not target any third party’ and is intended to promote peace and stability
- The US announces senior officials will visit Honiara, Australia presses its regional neighbour to step back from Beijing
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China confirmed the signing of a closely watched security agreement with the Solomon Islands on Tuesday, saying it was intended to promote peace and stability.
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The pact “does not target any third party” and is “parallel and complementary to the existing bilateral and multilateral security cooperation mechanisms” of the Solomon Islands, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
China was committed to helping the Solomons “strengthen its capacity building to maintain its own security”, with areas for cooperation to include “maintaining social order, protecting people’s lives and property, humanitarian assistance and natural disaster response”, Wang said.
Wang did not mention any details relating to military cooperation, although there has been speculation that the deal would allow China’s navy, police and armed forces to deploy in the country. The Solomons had said it would not allow a Chinese military base there.
The Solomon Islands first said it was establishing a security deal with Beijing in March, sparking concern from the United States and its allies Australia and New Zealand.
The confirmation on Tuesday came as Washington warned the deal would destabilise the region and announced it would send senior officials to the Solomons this week. Australia, which has had security cooperation with the Pacific island nation, also tried to press its neighbour to step away from Beijing.
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Australian troops and police deployed to Solomon Islands amid general unrest and Chinatown blaze
Australian troops and police deployed to Solomon Islands amid general unrest and Chinatown blaze
Wang said the US reactions were “exaggerating tension and provoking confrontation”.
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