“The Solomon Islands government released a statement saying that it was ‘diversifying the country’s security partnership including with China’ in which it was signing a collection of agreements to ‘further create a secure and safe environment for local and foreign investments’.”
“Australia also has a security agreement with the Solomon Islands signed in 2017, but China’s economic inroads into the Pacific region through its heavily criticised ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ is expected to usurp any other political arrangements.”
“The draft security treaty was leaked last week, causing concern in the leaderships of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The proposed security deal with Beijing allows China to station troops and navy vessels in the Solomon Islands for ‘security’ reasons.”
“Of more concern, the agreement lays out the ability for Chinese police and military to deploy additional forces to the Solomon Islands and its extended region to deal with issues of ‘social order’. They would also be authorised to protect the ‘safety of Chinese personnel’ and ‘major projects in the Solomon Islands’. Those projects would include military ports, airfields, and other communications infrastructure funded by China.”