Solomon Islands Pursuing China to Meet its Security Needs

The Pacific island nation’s leader has said that the Solomon Islands is pursuing a closer relationship with China as it feels that traditional partners like Australia will not be able to meet its security needs.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said that officials are ready to sign a security pact with China. A draft of the security agreement has alarmed the US and Australia as it may allow China to dock naval ships in the Solomon Islands and use its force to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and major projects.

It was not possible to determine if the draft complies with the latest terms of the agreement. Mr Sogavare told parliament on Tuesday that he would only comment on the rationale for the deal, not on its content. Still, he said the Solomon Islands did not intend to ask China to build a military base. This is what security analysts consider to be the red line for Australia.

The Solomon Islands, home to about 690,000 people on land slightly smaller than Maryland, have a long history of ethnic tensions. In November, a fierce protest that Manasseh Sogavare said was an attempt to overthrow the government led to the recent incineration of several buildings, including the area of ​​Honiara, the capital where  Chinese immigrants own stores.

The leaked draft agreement, called the Framework Agreement on Security Cooperation, states that the Solomon Islands may require China to deploy armed police and military personnel on missions such as riot control and disaster response.