Solomon Islands pact is a sea change in our security

News that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands has signed a security agreement with China should send worrying signals throughout our nation, New Zealand and the US (“Chinese troops to come next”, 21/4).

This agreement could be perilous for the safety of our country and raises the question whether we should have a defence minister on training wheels – whoever he or she is, because Labor has not disclosed that information. The current shadow minister, Brendan O’Connor, has been missing in action for a long time.

When we go to vote, we must consider whether this nation should have Defence Minister Peter Dutton or a Labor novice.

Lesley Beckhouse, Queanbeyan, NSW

Greg Sheridan and Peter Jennings (21/4) have their heads in the clouds if they think we could have outbid China. We have given billions of dollars in aid, without strings, to a number of our Pacific Island friends, aid that they have willingly accepted.

They are sovereign nations that can make their own decisions, good or bad, without outside interference. What we are now seeing is internal influence by China with rolls of money and strings. Furthermore, Mr Soga­vare, while being critical of Australia’s approach to climate change, chooses to ignore that China is the world’s worst emitter and thus the country most responsible for rising sea levels.

Tiit Tonuri, Cowra, NSW

My father, and his fellow New Zealand Air Force pilots flew and fought as allies with the Americans to save the Solomons, and particularly Guadalcanal, from the Japanese in World War II. Many were captured and many died; my father lived.

But thank God he is now dead and will not witness all those brave efforts having come to nothing with the handover of these islands to a hostile power.

Geraldine O’Sullivan, Hawthorn, Vic

China has a valid claim that Solomon Islands is “not the backyard of anyone, still less chess pieces in a geopolitical confrontation” and that it has “the right to independently choose their co-operation partners”. But this contradicts Beijing’s defence of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a necessary reaction to protect Russia’s sphere of influence against NATO expansion to its doorstep.

To apply China’s logic, Australia would have to invade our Pacific neighbour.

Han Yang, North Turramurra, NSW

The cementing in of China’s Solomon Islands negotiations with possibilities of a Chinese military base in the future is a game changer for us in our coming election decision. Our defence capabilities will become an increasing need going forward. Labor looks like being tied to the Greens’ Adam Brandt, who in his “wokeness” has no understanding of sovereign security. Anthony Albanese is vague about who would end up in the important defence portfolio. We’ll stick with Peter Dutton.

Sylvia Miners, Isabella Plains, ACT

It surprises me that the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Peter Jennings (“We can win Solomons over if we make the effort”, 21/4) says we need an “urgent rethink” of our security policy to the Pacific Islands, but then falls back to rote discussion of patrol boats, maritime drones and military facilities.

When will think tanks start listening to our Pacific partners, who have long been advocating a broader definition of security, including human and environmental security? Solomon Islands needs more effective development assistance, as well as a neighbour that acts as if climate change is the greatest threat to their livelihoods, wellbeing and security.

Nic Maclellan, Brunswick, Vic

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John is clueless (“China does not pose a threat to Australia: Greens”, 18/4) as to the reality underpinning the adage that to secure the peace, you need to prepare for war.

This month is the 40th anniversary of Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands. A contributing factor was the announcement by Britain that it was going to reduce the size and capability of the Royal Navy. Steele-John and the Greens need a serious reality check if they believe that Australia should disarm and kowtow to communist Chinese aggression.

David Armstrong, Maylands, WA