Opinion: Chilling reasons China’s deal with Solomons is a major concern

An increasingly aggressive China could have troops on the ground just 2000km from Australia within weeks, writes Matthew Killoran.

An increasingly aggressive China with eyes on retaking Taiwan now has the potential to establish a foothold on Australia’s doorstep, with Beijing having signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands just 2000km away.

It is hard to overstate the seriousness of what this means to Australia’s security, even more so after China’s President Xi Jinping delivered a speech on Thursday to propose a new “global security initiative” which would undermine the influence of the US in the region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Much of the details of the security pact between China and the Solomon Islands remain secret, but numerous national security exports have warned it could see troops on the ground in the Pacific nation within weeks, and have concerns it could lead the Beijing setting up a military base.

Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has stated unequivocally that there will be no military base, but at this stage it can only be hoped that this is true.

It is not just Australia, New Zealand and the US concerned by this development, but other Pacific nations as well.

The development is undoubtedly a foreign policy failure and has now become a major flashpoint at the election.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has been muscling up on the issue, accusing the government of having “gone missing” on the Solomon Islands crisis, as he seeks to make up ground after previously having taken a more cautious position on China.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been comfortable in punching back though, saying Labor is siding with China and pointing to his track record of calling Beijing out.

Regardless of who wins the May 21 election, this will be one of the gravest issues for the next Australian Government.

Originally published as Opinion: Chilling reasons China’s deal with Solomons is a major concern