The government of the Solomon Islands announced on Thursday it had signed a policing deal with China and would send a proposal for a broader security agreement to the cabinet for consideration.
The Solomon Islands is an archipelago located to the east of Papua New Guinea and is about 2,000km from Australia. The Solomon Islands has historically had strong security ties with Australia.
In November, police personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea arrived in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands, to quell riots.
Karen Galokale—permanent secretary for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services in the Solomon Islands—told Reuters a cooperation agreement signed between the Solomon Islands and China covered policing. She added “Any other arrangement on broad security would be just the same as the Australian agreement.” Australia signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2018.
“A draft copy of a security MOU circulated on social media states it would cover Chinese police, armed police and the military assisting the Solomon Islands on social order, disaster response and protecting the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands,” Reuters reported.
Australian Financial Review reported the plan for a broader security agreement has triggered concerns in the Scott Morrison government in Australia, which fears the deal will pave the way for a Chinese military presence in the Solomon Islands.
New Zealand-based security expert Anna Powles warned the security agreement was concerning.
“China may, according to its own needs and with the consent of the Solomon Island government, make ship visits to carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomons. this suggests logistics/supplies will be available in Solomons to support the Peoples Liberation Army Navy...” she was quoted as saying by Australian Financial Review and wondered if this meant establishment of a naval base.
Head of Australian National University’s National Security College, Rory Medcalf, was quoted by Australian Financial Review as arguing the agreement provided a “backdoor way” for China to establish a military presence in the South Pacific.
The Solomon Islands switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in 2019. The US has also been worried about China's growing influence in the country. The US said in February it intended to open an embassy in the Solomon Islands.
