Canberra/Tokyo | Prime Minister Scott Morrison is defending his national security credentials after Solomon Islands, snubbing personal pleas, signed a security pact with China, heightening fears Beijing will establish a permanent military presence less than 2000 kilometres from the Australian mainland.

As Australia, the US, New Zealand and Japan collectively expressed alarm over the agreement, Australian diplomats are now focusing on trying to neutralise the impact of the agreement by ensuring Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare never feels he needs an excuse to activate it.