SYDNEY/BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Tuesday it had signed a security cooperation agreement with the Solomon Islands, an announcement that is expected to heighten concerns among the United States and its allies Australia and New Zealand, in the face of China’s growing influence in the region.
The accord was signed by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a conference press in Beijing.
Wang Wenbin did not give details of the exact location or date of the signing.
Canberra fears that the agreement, the details of which have not been made public, is a step towards a Chinese military presence within 2,000 km of Australia.
Earlier on Tuesday, the archipelago was informed that China will send officials next month to sign cooperation agreements.
The Chinese Embassy and Solomon Islands officials had previously signed a letter of intent to send Chinese police and military personnel as needed to protect infrastructure and social order, but the agreement failed. not been ratified by governments.
On Monday, the White House said a US delegation, including Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell, would travel to Honiara, the archipelago’s capital, this week to discuss concerns about China, as well as the reopening of an American embassy.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told parliament that the proposed security deal would not include the establishment of a Chinese military base.
(Reporting Kirsty Needham and Martin Quin Pollard; French version Lou Phily; editing by Kate Entringer)
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