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A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 26 March 2022
Document indicates China could boost military in Solomons

By NICK PERRY porters at a daily briefing
WELLINGTON, New Zealand on Friday.
(AP) — A leaked document Wang referenced China's
indicates that China could previous support for the Sol-
boost its military presence omons in handling riots and
in the Solomon Islands — in- "maintaining stability," but
cluding with ship visits — in did not cite the agreement
a development that is rais- directly.
ing alarm in nearby Austra- Referring to Australia, he
lia and beyond. said China hoped "the rel-
The Solomon Islands re- evant party will see this ob-
vealed on Thursday it had jectively and calmly, and
signed a policing coopera- refrain from overinterpret-
tion agreement with Chi- ing it."
na. But more concerning "It is irresponsible and un-
to Australia was the draft helpful for regional stabil-
text of a broader secu- ity and development that
rity arrangement that was the individual Australian of-
leaked online. ficial hyped the fallacy of
Under the terms of the draft China's so-called coercion
agreement, China could and deliberately created
send police, military per- tensions," Wang said.
sonnel, and other armed Anna Powles, a senior lec-
forces to the Solomons "to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend turer in international securi-
assist in maintaining social a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Oct. 9, 2019. ty at New Zealand's Massey
order" and for a variety of Associated Press University, said Australia,
other reasons. It could also New Zealand and the U.S.
send ships to the islands for The department said that with both the Solomon Is- the Solomons "conducted would all be "very con-
stopovers and to replenish after riots last year in the lands and China. normal law enforcement cerned" about the draft
supplies. Solomon Islands' capital, "If genuine, this agreement and security cooperation agreement, which was am-
The draft agreement stip- Honiara, Australia and its would be very concern- on the basis of equal treat- bitious on China's part.
ulates that China would neighbors had been able ing," Foreign Minister Na- ment and win-win coop- Powles said it would be in-
need to sign off on any in- to send security assistance naia Mahuta said. "Such eration." teresting to know what kind
formation that's released "without the need for exter- agreements will always be "This is in line with the inter- of goods China might want
about joint security ar- nal support." the right of any sovereign national law and interna- to send to the Solomons to
rangements, including at "Pacific Island nations have country to enter into; how- tional practice, conducive service its ships, and wheth-
media briefings. the right to make sovereign ever, developments within to maintaining social or- er there was the potential
Without directly address- decisions," the department this purported agreement der in the Solomon Islands for mission creep in the fu-
ing the content of the draft said. "Australia's coopera- could destabilize the cur- and promoting peace and ture, like China developing
agreement, Australia's De- tion with our Pacific family is rent institutions and ar- stability in the region, and a naval base.
partment of Foreign Affairs focused on the economic rangements that have long helpful to enhance com- She said she was con-
and Trade issued a state- prosperity, security and de- underpinned the Pacific re- mon interests of China and cerned China was trying to
ment saying "We would be velopment of our region." gion's security." the Solomon Islands, as direct the political narrative
concerned by any actions New Zealand said it Questioned about the well as all countries in the by controlling what infor-
that destabilize the security planned to raise its con- agreement, China's Foreign region," ministry spokesper- mation could be publicly
of our region." cerns about the document Ministry said Beijing and son Wang Wenbin told re- released.q

West African leaders hold summit after Mali sanctions

held another summit on aid to the country and in- democratically elected
Mali after imposing region- cluded land and air border president in August 2020,
al sanctions in January on closures with other coun- coup leader Goita had
the country after its military tries belonging to ECOWAS. promised to swiftly return
leaders said they would The African Economic and the country to demo-
stay in power for four more Monetary Union Court of cratic rule. Doubts deep-
years instead of holding an Justice on Thursday or- ened about his intentions,
election in February. dered the suspension of though, after he effectively
The regional economic those sanctions. Mali's lead- launched a second coup
bloc known as ECOWAS ers have been requesting a nine months later, forcing
invited the junta leader lifting of the sanctions since out the chosen transitional
and transitional president they were imposed and last civilian leaders and be-
of Mali, Col. Assimi Goita, month filed a legal com- coming president himself.
to attend in person, but his plaint saying they would The junta led by Goita,
office said he wouldn't go severely affect Malians. which had initially agreed
ECOWAS heads of states and other representative pose for a
family photo during the fifth extraordinary summit in Accra, in person but may attend It is unclear if the regional to hold a new election in
Ghana, Friday March 25, 2022. virtually. body meeting in Ghana's February, said in January
Associated Press It's likely that the bloc will capital, Accra, on Friday that new elections would
revisit the January sanc- will follow the recommen- instead by held in 2026, giv-
By BABA AHMED BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — West tions that suspended most dation of the court. ing Goita four more years in
Associated Press African leaders on Friday commerce and financial After overthrowing Mali's power.q