Solomon Islands and China in military pact

A draft agreement would allow Chinese forces on the Pacific nation and could pave the way for a PLA base.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara. Picture: AFP

A draft security co-operation agreement between China and the Solomon Islands would allow Chinese military forces to be ­deployed in the Pacific Island ­nation and could pave the way for the establishment of a People’s Liberation Army base.

The “framework agreement” between the two governments, which was leaked online on Thursday, would enable the Solomon Islands government to ­“request China to send police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces to Solomon ­Islands”.

It says Chinese forces would be able to maintain social order and protect lives in the country, and that Chinese ships could visit and “carry out logistic replenishment”.

In a pointed response, Australia’s High Commissioner in the Solomon Islands Lachlan Strahan announced extra aid for the country including more than $20m in financial support.

“Following a meeting with PM (Manasseh) Sogavare, delighted to confirm Australia will extend the Solomons International Assistance Force until Dec 2023, build a radio network across the Solomon Islands, construct a second patrol bt outpost on the eastern border and provide SBD130 million ($21.64 million AUD) )in budget support,” Dr Strahan said on social media on Thursday night.

ANU National Security College head Rory Medcalf said the as-yet-unsigned agreement would give China unprecedented military access to Australia’s ­Pacific neighbour, including the potential establishment of a ­Chinese base in Solomon Islands. “Assuming it is accurate, this is a very serious shift,” he said. ­“Because if you read the document, it literally is an open door to a Chinese military presence in the Solomon Islands with authorisation to use force.

“There are no caveats about levels of force or authorisation to use force. So there is a grey zone there, and I would read that grey zone as pretty damn dangerous.”

The document says “the relevant forces of China can be used to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands”. Professor Medcalf said: “That is comprehensive access and to have that kind of access it is implicit that you need facilities that are capable of supporting that access.

“It is not an agreement to ­establish a base but it is certainly a back door to that possibility.”

The agreement was initially published on Twitter by New Zealand academic Anna Powles, who said it “clearly alludes to the ­establishment of some kind of logistical support base in the Solomons”.

The agreement says details of co-operation must remain confidential, and “neither party shall disclose the co-operation information” without prior consent of the other party. Dr Powles said that suggested an attempt “to control public information and the political narrative”.

The Australian obtained ­another copy of the document from a Solomon Islands-related source, who said negotiations on the agreement were believed to have begun last year after riots against the country’s Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

Solomon Islands opposition MP Peter Kenilorea Jr said the proposed agreement threatened his country’s sovereignty.

“It does open a way for a base and it fits in well with the statements made by Prime Minister Sogavare regarding China,” he said. “As a small island state the need to uphold our sovereignty has always been a challenge. The draft agreement has further compounded that challenge.”

Australia deployed 200 Australian Federal Police, Australian Defence Force and Foreign ­Affairs personnel to Solomon ­Islands from November last year to help restore law and order in Honiara. About 50 remain in the country, in addition to Australian high commission staff.

A team of Chinese police officers was deployed to the country in February to help train local counterparts to deal with riots, alarming Australian officials who suggested it could lead to future military co-operation.

The Australian revealed last year that Mr Sogavare – a longtime ­critic of Australia who has forged strong relations with China – was using payments from a Chinese slush fund to lock in the support of MPs ahead of a ­December vote of no confidence in his leadership. Mr Sogavare won the no-­confidence vote 32 to 15, with two abstentions.

Mr Sogavare severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2019, re-establishing ties with China.

He accused “Taiwan’s agents” of orchestrating the November 2021 riots by ethnic Malaitans who were unhappy with his leadership and continue to support ties with Taiwan.