Australia gives 200,000 Covid vaccines to Solomon Islands as Penny Wong continues Pacific charm offensive

The move is likely to anger China, who will see Penny Wong’s donation as an attempt to curry favour with the island state.

Penny Wong has continued her charm offensive in the Pacific, handing over 200,000 Covid vaccines to the Solomon Islands.

The move is likely to anger China, who will see Ms Wong’s donation as an attempt to curry favour with the island state.

The Solomons recently signed a security pact with Beijing that the West fears could lead to China establishing a military base on the islands.

Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare shakes hands with the visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong in Solomon Islands capital city Honiara. (Photo by Julia WHITWELL / various sources / AFP)

Ms Wong has since held talks with a series of Pacific nations to try to sway them to build closer ties with Australia, rather than China.

The 200,000 vaccines will be given to children under the age of 11 “to get younger children back into the classroom safely”.

“It’s the people of Australia who are demonstrating their friendship through their government and their willingness to work with you as part of the Pacific family to improve your outcomes, particularly for your young people,” Ms Wong said.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare reassured Ms Wong that China would not be allowed to build a base on the islands, after the news of the vaccines was announced.

“Obviously, we did talk about regional security,” Ms Wong said.

“Australia’s view does remain that the Pacific family should be responsible for our security, and the Pacific family is more than capable of providing that security.

“I welcomed Prime Minister Sogavare’s reassurances that there will not a military base or persistent foreign military presence here in Solomon Islands.

“And I welcomed his assurance that Australia remains Solomon Islands’ first security partner of choice and development partner of choice.”

Penny Wong arrives in Honiara. (Photo by Julia WHITWELL / Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) / Australia Global Alumni / AFP)

The Foreign Minister touched down in Honiara earlier on Friday morning, marking her fifth visit to a Pacific nation since she took office just three weeks ago.

Her visit is the first from an Australian minister since the Solomon Islands signed off on the landmark security agreement.

China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, met with Mr Sogavare just last month as part of a regional tour to promote deeper co-operation.

It comes as Beijing revealed it would pursue a Pacific-wide pact on security, policing and data.

The plans have caused major unease in Canberra, Wellington and Washington, with fears the Solomon Islands deal has given China a foothold in the Pacific.

Mr Sogavare has repeatedly claimed he has no intention to allow Beijing to put boots on the ground.

Any such invitation would put Australia in a tricky position, given it aims to be the security partner of choice in the Pacific.

Speaking ahead of Senator Wong’s visit, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government was putting in the work to make up for lost time.

“We are very focused on making sure we get the relationships with our region, in terms of the Pacific, right,” he told Seven.