Solomon Islands dig in on China deal, Libs accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’

The Solomon Islands has doubled down on a deal with China that would allow Beijing to send troops into the Pacific Island nation.

The Solomon Islands has doubled down on a deal with China that would allow Beijing to send troops into the Pacific Island nation.

A “framework agreement” ­between the Solomon Islands and China was leaked online on Thursday, following a video meeting Beijing said took place on March 18 and which resulted in a memorandum of understanding being signed on police co-operation.

In response, Australia’s high commissioner to the Solomon ­Islands, Lachlan Strahan, ­unveiled an extra $20m in financial support for the nation.

But the Solomon Islands ­refused to back down from the deal, saying on Friday that the draft agreement was in line with its foreign policy of being “friends to all, enemies to none”.

“Broadening partnerships is needed to improve the quality of lives of our people and address soft and hard security threats facing our country,” the Solomon ­Island’s Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said in a statement.

“The proposed security ­arrangements have a development dimension to it, covering ­humanitarian needs of the ­country, besides maintaining the rule of law.”

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government was “particularly concerned” over any actions that could undermine ­security in the region.

“The Pacific family is best placed to provide security assistance to Solomon Islands and stands ready to assist further if needed,” she said in a joint statement with Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja.

“Australia is aware of the proposed draft security co-operation agreement between China and Solomon Islands … We have regularly and respectfully raised our concerns with the government of Solomon Islands and will continue to do so.

“We would be particularly ­concerned by any actions that undermine the stability and security of our region, including the ­establishment of a permanent presence such as a military base.”

Labor used the deal to attack the government for its “failed” ­Pacific step-up strategy, which was launched in 2018 and aimed to take engagement with Pacific ­Island nations “to the next level”.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne

Labor’s Pat Conroy.

Pat Conroy, opposition spokesman for the Pacific, said the “core aim of Australia’s foreign policy should be that we’re the partner of choice for Pacific Island nations”.

Opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen said the deal was “a very backward step in Australia’s best interests and the interests of stability”, while former Labor leader Bill Shorten said the Morrison government had been “asleep at the wheel”.

“I think this is a major foreign policy blunder and that when we’ve got these sorts of agreements being signed in our backyard, that’s the day job of the Morrison government,” Mr Shorten told the Today Show.

But Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Australia had a ­“fantastic relationship” with the Solomon Islands and the Morrison government had sent 50 police officers to be stationed there since last year’s riots, and they would stay until 2023.

Mr Conroy said the government’s attitude on climate change in particular – which is of significant concern to Pacific nations – had damaged foreign and national security interests in the Pacific and led to the deal with Beijing.

Scott Morrison hosed down ­assertions Australia could have done more to prevent the deal.

“These most recent developments and the uncertainty and ­instability in the Solomons just highlights once again why it has been so important that we leaned in as heavily as we have,” the Prime Minister said. “No government has ever invested as heavily and consistently and recognised our responsibilities in the Pacific.”