China ‘laying the groundwork’ for new military base in Solomon Islands

Chinese media has reported President Xi Jinping has signed a deal that allows for “armed forces operations” in areas of the Pacific Islands.

China is one step closer to building a military base in the Pacific, defence analysts say.

President Xi Jinping this week signed new trial guidelines that allow for “armed forces operations” not related to warfare in areas of the Pacific Islands.

Experts have warned the measures are another move towards China establishing a long-term military base in the Solomon Islands.

“Chinese troops can prevent spillover effects of regional instabilities from affecting China, secure vital transport routes for strategic materials like oil, or safeguard China‘s overseas investments, projects and personnel,” the Global Times reported this week, indicating Xi Jinping’s new measure would come into effect on Wednesday.

Analysts have warned the new trial guidelines reported by state-backed publications will open another door for China to assert itself in the region.

“China is laying the groundwork for a military base in the Solomon Islands … something it could establish quite quickly,” senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute Malcolm Davis said via 9News.

Chinese officials have previously declared there is “general support” for the superpower’s presence in the Pacific. However, local leaders have expressed concerns about “specific issues” regarding the recent push for a Pacific regional agreement.

The secret deal reportedly would have allowed China to train local police, become involved in cybersecurity, expand political ties, conduct sensitive marine mapping and gain greater access to natural resources on land and in the water.

Chinese media has reported President Xi Jinping has signed new trial guidelines that allow for “armed forces operations” in areas of the Pacific Islands.

It came as Australia and China’s defence ministers met for the first time in three years on Sunday, with the talks described as “an important first step” following a period of strained ties.

Defence Minister Richard Marles held talks for over an hour with China’s Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

Marles described the meeting as “an important first step” and “very significant”.

“It was an opportunity to have a very frank and full exchange in which I raised a number of issues of concern to Australia,” said Marles, who is also Australia’s deputy prime minister.

The Chinese government did not offer any immediate comment following the meeting.

Relations between Beijing and Canberra have grown frosty in recent years after the latter called for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and banned telecom giant Huawei from building Australia’s 5G network.

China — Australia’s biggest trading partner — responded by imposing tariffs and disrupting more than a dozen key industries, including wine, barley and coal.

Analysts have warned the new trial guidelines reported by state-backed publications will open another door for China to assert itself in the region.

Marles said the recent interception of an Australian patrol plane in international airspace by a Chinese warplane as well as Australia’s “abiding interest in the Pacific” were among topics discussed.

This included Australia’s focus on ensuring “that the countries of the Pacific are not put in a position of increased militarisation”, he said.

The patrol plane incident, described by Canberra as “very dangerous”, happened on May 26, when a Chinese aircraft intercepted the Australian jet and released a cloud of small aluminium strips, known as chaff.

Asked about next steps, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia wanted to move in a ‘very sober and very deliberate manner’.

Marles underscored the importance of “open lines of dialogue” with China.

“Australia and China’s relationship is complex. And it’s precisely because of this complexity that it is really important that we are engaging in dialogue right now.”

Asked about next steps, he said Australia wanted to move in a “very sober and very deliberate manner. We don’t underestimate the difficulties that we’ve had in our bilateral relationship”.

He stressed that “while there is a change of tone, there is absolutely no change in the substance of Australia’s national interests”.

— with AFP