Canberra: Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, proclaimed that China would never be allowed to set up a base in the Solomon Islands. Over the last few months, reports suggested that China is setting up a military base in the Solomon Islands, which has raised tensions in the region. Australia criticized China’s plans in the Solomon Islands as they posed a security threat to them. Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands has reassured the Prime Minister of Australia.
Moreover, China’s ambition to dominate the Indo-Pacific region is not a secret. For this reason, China has increased its diplomatic and military activities in the region over the past few years. Chinese President Xi Jinping held a separate meeting of the island countries in the region and lured them with loans. Recently the Chinese destroyer vessels and patrol boats reached close to the Australian shores.
Furthermore, China has signed agreements to increase investment in the Solomon Islands, an island country close to Australia. Australia alleged that the agreement included a Chinese military base built on the Solomon Islands. Since the Solomon Islands are about 2000 km away, Australia expressed concerns about the perceived security threat to its sovereignty.
Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned China not to violate Australia’s red lines with their investment plans in the Solomon Islands. Also, if China tries to build a military base on this island, Australia will thwart the Chinese efforts with the help of its partner countries. At the same time, Morrison reminded the Solomon Islands of cooperation with Australia and other countries in this region.
Prime Minister Sogavare had announced that he had not allowed China to build military bases. In such a situation, the current Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, visited the Solomon Islands on Thursday. Prime Minister Sogavare informed Prime Minister Albanese that cooperation with China had been established. However, the Solomon Islands has not provided a military base to China. Prime Minister Sogavare assured that the cooperation with China would not jeopardize the security of the Solomon Islands and the member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Islands Forum includes 18 island countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands. A joint military and police force of these Pacific countries was deployed in the Solomon Islands during the period of instability from 2003 to 2017. Since then, security cooperation has been established between Australia and the Solomon Islands. Australia claims the cooperation is under threat due to an agreement with China. But the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands has clearly stated that he will not allow China to build a military base and has given a message that his country’s position has not changed.
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