Australian and U.S. leaders should stop appealing to the Solomon Islands Prime Minister to change his mind about the controversial security agreement with Beijing, which could pave the way for militarization in the region. is.
Instead, one South Pacific expert said the focus should be on engaging with stakeholders interested in democracy and weakening relations with China.
“There are a wide range of sincere and dedicated leaders in the Solomon Islands, including state prime ministers, parliamentarians, chiefs, religious leaders, and women’s group leaders, many of whom oppose the deal. Cleopascal, Associate Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Program at Chatham House, based in London, said.
On April 19, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, confirmed that Beijing and the Solomon Islands have approved “security cooperation between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).” This will open the door to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). ) Militaryize the area.
In essence, under this agreement, the CCP, with the consent of the Solomon Islands, dispatched police, troops, weapons, and even naval vessels to “safety Chinese personnel and major Solomon Islands projects” based on the leak. You can “protect”. Document page.
Pascal described the government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavale as an “unfriendly layer” of corruption trying to prevent outside involvement with the country.
“Canberra is that corrupt and unpopular layer [and Washington D.C.] We prioritized engagement, “she said. “Rather than meeting like-minded leaders who believe in the rules of democracy, transparency and accountability of law, leaders are almost exclusively with Sogavale in the process of making Sogavale more important and powerful. I will continue to meet my fellow countrymen publicly. “
Kurt Campbell, Indo-Pacific Coordinator of the United States, will meet with the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands in the Solomon Islands. This was after the Australian Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Zed Seselja, and the two intelligence directors all met. The prime minister urged him to stop trading.
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticized for the deal with Beijing, and federal opponents claim that the current centre-right coalition has dropped the ball on aid funding and action on climate change.
“The government should have acted faster. We live in a world where the strategic situation we face is more dangerous and uncertain than at any time after World War II.” Labor Party foreign spokesman Penny Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on April 20.
However, Pascal said it was futile to compete with Beijing for aid, and that the security agreement was not between China and the Solomon Islands, but between CCP and Sogavale.
“Even if both (CCP and Sogavare) mean causing a civil war to justify its development, it needs to be continued and deepened,” she said, and the situation of the Prime Minister’s false flag operation. Warn that it could trigger security arrangements and delay elections.
“If free and fair elections are held on schedule in 2023, a new government could come in and cancel the deal, and perhaps return to Taiwan,” she said. “Imagine what that would bring to Xi’s credibility in China. His domestic enemies would say he couldn’t even seize a small Pacific country-it’s a big loss of face. Will be. “
“Neither can afford to retreat, so when Australia and the United States put eggs in Sogavale’s basket, it becomes an omelet that Beijing eats.”
follow
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]