Solomon Islands won’t allow Chinese military base and knows ‘Consequences’

The Solomon Islands said it would not allow a Chinese military base in the Pacific islands nation despite its plans to sign a security pact with Beijing.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said on Friday the draft agreement does not invite China to establish a military base.

“Government is conscious of the security ramification of hosting a military base, and it will not be careless to allow such initiative to take place under its watch,” a statement said.

Sogavare has not released details of the security agreement with China and its ministers have not yet signed it.

The leader of the Federated States of Micronesia on Thursday urged the Solomon Islands not to sign the security pact, saying he had “grave security concerns” and feared the Pacific could become embroiled in war between China and the United States.

New Zealand has also warned against the pact, which it says could upset long-standing regional security cooperation.

Australia’s Defense Minister Peter Dutton on Friday said he respected Sogavare’s perspective but urged caution.

China had established 20 points of military presence in the South China Sea despite telling the United States it would not militarize the region, and Canberra feared Beijing was on a similar pathway in the Pacific islands, Dutton said in an interview with Sky News.

“They want a military port in Papua New Guinea. They’ve got one in Sri Lanka, and they’re looking obviously at other places where they can put them,” he said.

China offered to redevelop a naval base in Papua New Guinea in 2018 but Australia’s closest northern neighbor decided to have Australia to develop the base instead.

A Chinese military base in the Solomon Islands would force Australia to significantly increase its military deployment in the region because the islands are very close to Australia, Dutton said.

Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne said the security agreement between Solomon Islands and China would undermine stability in the region.

China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday “the China-Solomon islands security cooperation does not target any third party and does not conflict with other countries.”