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WORLD NEWS Thursday 14 april 2022

Western pressure mounts on Solomons to quash pact with China

international practice. work in opposition to the creating division in the re-
"It is conducive to the so- Solomon Islands' coopera- gion, and do something
cial stability and lasting tion with other countries, conducive to regional sta-
peace and safety of Solo- but will complement the bility and development."
mon Islands and will help exiting regional coopera- According to a draft of
promote peace, stability tion mechanism in a posi- the agreement, which was
and development of Solo- tive way," he said. leaked online, Chinese
mon Islands and the rest of He added that other coun- warships could stop in the
South Pacific region," Zhao tries "should view this in an Solomons for "logistical re-
told reporters Wednesday objective and reasonable plenishment" and China
at a daily briefing. manner, respect the sov- could send police, military
"The security cooperation ereignty and independent personnel and other armed
between China and the decision of China and the forces to the Solomons "to
Solomon Islands does not Solomon Islands, avoid pro- assist in maintaining social
A display case of photos is seen outside the Chinese Embassy in target any third party or voking confrontation and order."q
Honiara, Solomon Islands, April 2, 2022.
Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia: (AP) The announcement of re-
— Australia and the United opening the embassy,
States are stepping up dip- which has been closed
lomatic outreach to the since 1993, came in Febru-
Solomon Islands after China ary before the security pact
signed a security deal with came to light, but amid al-
the South Pacific island na- ready growing concerns
tion that could lead to Bei- about Chinese influence in
jing establishing a military the strategically important
presence there. country.
Australian Prime Minis- A Chinese military pres-
ter Scott Morrison said ence in the Solomon Is-
Wednesday that his minister lands would put it not only
for International Develop- on the doorstep of Australia
ment and the Pacific, Zed and New Zealand but also
Seselja, had flown to the in close proximity to Guam,
Solomon Islands the day with its massive U.S. military
before for talks with Prime bases.
Minister Manasseh Soga- At the time he announced
vare on the April 1 security the embassy's reopen-
pact the country agreed to ing, U.S. Secretary of State
with China. Antony Blinken said the U.S.
Seselja said he had asked was seeking to increase its
Sogavare to abandon the influence in the Solomon
Chinese agreement. Islands before China be-
"We have asked Solomon comes "strongly embed-
Islands respectfully to con- ded." State Department
sider not signing the agree- spokesman Ned Price said
ment and to consult the the call between Sherman
Pacific family in the spirit and Manele touched on
of regional openness and "our joint efforts to broaden
transparency, consistent and deepen engagement
with our region's security between our countries," in
frameworks," Seselja said in addition to the embassy
a statement. plans, but gave no further
The trip came the same details.
day that U.S. Deputy Sec- Chinese Foreign Ministry
retary of State Wendy Sher- spokesman Zhao Lijian de-
man spoke with Solomon fended Beijing's coopera-
Islands Foreign Minister tion with the Solomons as
Jeremiah Manele about being based on "the princi-
Washington's plan to re- ple of mutual respect and
open an embassy in the mutual benefit" and in line
capital, Honiara. with international law and