“We find it very offensive to describe ourselves as incapable of managing our sovereign affairs,” Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told parliament on Tuesday, referring to the international backlash. “Our approach to security is not in a vacuum and not without due attention to all our partners.” “The Security Treaty is at the request of the Solomon Islands and we have not been pressured in any way by our new friends,” he added. “We have no intention, Mr President, of engaging in any geopolitical power struggle.” He also criticized Australian media reports that Beijing was reportedly planning to build a military base on the Solomon Islands – a possible first for China in the Pacific region, which is considered by Canberra as its doorstep. In a statement Friday, the prime minister’s office said the government was “working to sign and implement a series of development frameworks with China to further create a safe and secure environment for local and foreign investment.” Sogavare further defended the move on Tuesday, telling Parliament: “As we move towards our security needs, we need to differentiate … we are a country with limited security capabilities and it is clear that we will need ongoing support.” However, the possible deal has caused concern in many countries, including the United States and Australia, which are becoming increasingly wary of the expanding footprint of a assertive China in the region. For decades, Australia has enjoyed strong influence in the Pacific Islands as a wealthy donor helping aid-dependent states. But in recent years, China has also become a major player in the region, investing billions of dollars – making these tiny islands the focus of a fierce power struggle. These tensions have only increased as China has increased its naval capabilities and militarized islands in the South China Sea. Australia has an existing security agreement with the Solomon Islands, which is active from 2018, which allows Australian police, defense and civilian personnel to deploy quickly to the islands in the event of a security threat. The Solomon Islands government noted the agreement in a statement Friday, saying it “will continue to maintain the Security Agreement with Australia as it develops and deepens its relations with all partners, including China.” Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton voiced concern Friday that any security deal with Beijing could eventually lead to the expansion of China’s military presence in the region – a stance reiterated on Monday by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The deal is “a matter of concern for the region,” Morrison told reporters – but added that it was not a surprise. “We have known about these pressures for a long time,” he said, adding that the latest development served as “a reminder of the ongoing pressure and threats to our region for our national security.” New Zealand also expressed “strong condemnation” in a statement on Tuesday, adding that possible co-operation “threatens to destabilize current institutions and arrangements that have long secured the security of the Pacific”. He also announced the continuation of the New Zealand Rising Forces (NZDF) and police in the Solomon Islands following the civil unrest in the Pacific island nation last year. The Solomon Islands only recently entered into diplomatic relations with Beijing, with the government recognizing mainland China vis-.-Vis Taiwan in 2019 – a decision that the government has faced pressure from citizens. This was an issue that arose during violent protests in the capital, Honiara, last November – when Australia deployed police and defense personnel to support local authorities. During Sogavare’s remarks on Tuesday, he said that both New Zealand and Australia remain important bilateral partners and that he had written a letter and text message to Morrison on the matter. Beijing Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. mutual benefit “. Additional references from CNN Simone McCarthy and Lizzy Yee.
