Leaked document proves China is lying about plans to build naval base in Solomon Islands

New documents have revealed China has been lying about its military intentions in the Pacific after signing a deal with the Solomon Islands.

An official Chinese document has surfaced which contradicts Beijing’s denials about its plans to set up a military base in the Solomon Islands.

China has gone to great lengths to play down an agreement signed last week between the two countries, which critics claim will lead to Beijing building a naval base in the Pacific nation.

As late as Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy in the Solomons said concerns the pact could allow a People’s Liberation Army base to be established were “utterly misinformation deliberately spread with political motive”.

The spokesman dismissed worries in Canberra, Wellington and among fellow Pacific Island countries that the agreement could lead to the militarisation of the region.

“The world has entered into [the] 21st century, but regrettably some people are still indulged in Cold War and colonial mentality,” the spokesman said.

However a document, obtained from sources in the Solomons and seen by News.com.au, shows that Chinese plans to establish a military presence were being discussed as far back as 2020.

A new document has shown that Chinese plans to establish a military presence were being discussed as far back as 2020

The document is a letter signed by the president of Chinese state-owned company, Avic International Project Engineering Company, Mr Rong Qian, and addressed to the former Premier of the Isobel Province Leslie Kikolo.

Qian writes that the letter “demonstrates our intent to study the opportunity to develop Naval and infrastructure projects on leased land for the People’s Liberation Navy, for the Isobel Province with exclusive rights for 75 years.”

In what looks to be an inducement by the Chinese, Rong Qian promises that “before development of project, China would assist Solomon Islands, including infrastructure, education and sports”.

The document from AVIC INTL briefly mentioned 'military co-operation' with China.

In concludes, “our expertise... will also help the country to improve her educational level and military co-operation with China”.

The letter makes a mockery of Chinese denials that it would create a military base in the Solomon Islands, only 2,000 kilometres from the Queensland coast.

But the denials haven’t been limited to the Chinese. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has also refuted the existence of any military invitation.

As late as Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy in the Solomons said concerns the pact could allow a People’s Liberation Army base to be established were ‘utterly misinformation deliberately spread with political motive’.

The Solomon Islands Times today ran a story quoting the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare from his national address this week.

It reported that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare assured the citizens of the Solomon Islands that the country “would never be used as a military base or other military institutions by any foreign country now or in the future”.

Neither the Chinese Embassy or Prime Minister Sogavare have ever mentioned the existence of correspondence about plans for Chinese military infrastructure in the Solomons.

It’s clear from the 2020 letter that those plans were seeded at least two years before their recent partnership agreement was signed.

The US and Australia have long been concerned about the potential for China to build a military base in the South Pacific.

However, relations between the Solomons and Australia have been deteriorating in recent years, as the island state deepened ties with Beijing.

Chris Smith is a Sky News Australia host. His show ‘Chris Smith Tonight’ airs Sunday 6pm.