Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele poised for first overseas visit

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is expected to make his first overseas trip as the new leader of the Pacific Island country to Australia as early as next week.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong with Solomon Islands PM Jeremiah Manele in Honiara. Picture: DFAT

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is expected to make his first overseas trip as the new leader of the Pacific Island country to Australia as early as next week, as Foreign Minister Penny Wong quadrupled down on her assessment that Canberra was in a “permanent state of contest” with China in the region.

Mr Manele is expected to hold talks with Anthony Albanese ­focused on how Australia can better meet the security needs of Solomon Islands and help with the new leader’s economic development goals.

Preparations for the visit were under way as Senator Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles visited the site of a devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province late last month, announcing a further $2.2m in Australian aid to help with the ongoing recovery effort.

“We bring greetings and sympathy from the people of Australia and we have a message, which is: we stand with you,” Senator Wong said at the site where 670 people tragically lost their lives.

Speaking after a day of high-level talks in Port Moresby co-­ordinated with her PNG counterpart, the Foreign Minister earlier made it clear that Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s recent visit to Australia had not changed Canberra’s concerns about Beijing’s efforts in the region. “We’re in a permanent contest in the Pacific,” she repeated on Thursday in four separate interviews.

Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchencko, left, PNG Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Port Moresby. Picture: DFAT

During Mr Li’s visit, China had pressed Australia to embrace its growing interest in the region. Chinese officials have long singled out co-operation with Australia in the Pacific as a priority area for the relationship, but Canberra remains wary. Mr Albanese avoided mentioning Pacific co-operation after his meeting in Canberra with Mr Li and the topic was not included in their joint-outcomes statement.

Mihai Sora, a fellow at the Lowy Institute, said he was “really sceptical” about the potential for the two countries to work together closely in the Pacific.

“China routinely frames their approach to the Pacific as conciliatory and wanting to work with Australia, but I think that’s in­sincere,” said Mr Sora, a former Australian diplomat.

On Thursday, Mr Albanese ­reiterated Australia’s concerns about China’s tacit support for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “We think that China should use its influence with Russia,” Mr Albanese said.