Solomon Islands leader counters critics of China security cooperation

The leader of Solomon Islands on Monday hit back at criticism of his nation’s deepening security ties with China, saying the United States and Australia had nothing to fear. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made the remarks at a news conference in the capital Honiara after returning from a visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials. Sogavare said that while in China, he signed nine agreements and memorandums, including a police cooperation plan.
He said the plan “enhances cooperation on law enforcement and security matters with a commitment by China to provide support as needed” to strengthen the capacity of police law enforcement in the Pacific nation. The new agreements come after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China last year, raising fears of a military buildup in the region. The US has countered with diplomatic moves of its own, including opening an embassy in the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands switched allegiance from the self-ruled island of Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, threatening the close ties with the US that date to World War II.
Both the US and Australia have raised concerns about the secrecy of the new police plan. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters she had asked about the plan when she met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Jakarta
last week.