Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made a military base in the Solomon Islands Australia a military base in the Solomon Islands following the recent exposure that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has signed a security agreement with Pacific countries and Beijing may open its doors to expatriates. Said it would be the “red line” of. And local weapons.
Morrison’s comments came after a U.S. delegation, led by Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell, concluded a meeting with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavale, where they were “substantially” about the impact of the deal. Discussion “was held.
Subsequent statements from the White House warned that if Beijing established a military presence, the United States would “respond accordingly.” The delegation also met with religious leaders and key members of the opposition who expressed concern about the agreement.
Prime Minister Morrison said on April 24 that the security agreement is a “common concern” between governments.
“Working with New Zealand and, of course, our US partners, I share the same red line that the US has on these issues,” he told reporters.
Defense Minister Peter Dutton has been more directly assessing the situation, saying that the only way to maintain peace is to “prepare for war.”
“That’s the reality. We are a country with a proud heritage today to commemorate the most important day of our calendar,” he said of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who served in World War I. I told Nine Network on Anzac Day, a commemorative anniversary.
“We are determined to be able to maintain peace in our country,” Dutton added.
Meanwhile, centre-left Labor opposition continues to attack the coalition, claiming it was unable to prepare for the complex strategic situation facing the Indo-Pacific.
“It’s a thrilling government, but when it comes to doing what you really need and doing, it’s a government that repeatedly fails,” he told reporters in Darwin on April 25. Important is a government that repeatedly fails, as is the management of relations in the Pacific. “
However, Labor Party defense spokesperson Brendan O’Connor admitted that the bribes of Solomon’s officials may have helped to close the deal in Beijing.
“It may be true that they acted inappropriately in persuading the Solomon Islands to conclude such an arrangement,” he told ABC Radio National.
A security agreement between the Solomon Islands and Beijing, signed last week, could destabilize the Indo-Pacific between the United States and its allies, allowing Beijing to use the agreement to establish a military presence in the region. Triggered a warning that there was.
According to the leaked draft agreement, Beijing, with the consent of the Solomon Islands, will send police, troops, weapons and even naval vessels to “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major Solomon Islands projects.” Will be able to.
The location of the Solomon Islands is important. During World War II, it was a scene where a large-scale battle was fought because it affected the route. The security agreement will extend Beijing’s reach beyond the South China Sea to within 1,700 kilometers (1,060 miles) of Australia’s northern city of Cairns.
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Daniel Y. Teng is based in Sydney. He focuses on national politics, including federal politics, COVID-19 response, and relations between Australia and China. Do you have a hint? Contact him at [email protected]