Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manassexjmtzywh Sogavare has launched a fiery defence of a leaked deal that could lead to China having a military presence in the nation.
A draft agreement between Solomon Islands and China was leaked last week, prompting concerns from Australia and New Zealand that a deal could lead to regional instability.
Addressing parliament on Tuesday, Mr Sogavare confirmed Honiara was in negotiations with China, adding the backlash to the agreement was “insulting”.
“We have no intention, Mr Speaker, of pitching into any geopolitical power struggle,” he said
“We find it very insulting to be branded as unfit to manage our sovereign affairs.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern expressed apprehension about the security pact.
In a read out of the discussion, the pair said they shared concerns about “any actions that would undermine the security and stability of the Pacific region”.
Mr Sogavare insisted the Solomon Islands’ security arrangement “remained in place” and added he would “not pick sides”.
He said he had written to Mr Morrison and exchanged text messages with him on the matter.
It comes as Labor piles on the pressure for the government to ramp up its presence in the Pacific, claiming it has dropped the ball with maintaining relations with our neighbours.
“There is no logical reason why China needs to have a presence, in terms of a base, in the Solomons,” Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told the ABC.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has flown to Fiji to discuss the proposed deal with Pacific leaders.
Asked if Marise Payne should do the same, Mr Albanese remained coy.
“Well, that‘s a matter for the government,” he said.
“But what they should be doing, I'll say this, whether they’re doing it physically or virtually, is engaging in full diplomatic efforts with all of our neighbours in the Pacific.”
Mr Morrison on Monday denied he had let relationships with Australia’s Pacific neighbours slip.
“Absolutely not. We’ve been aware of the risks right across the Pacific,” he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
“The reports that we’ve seen are not a surprise to us and are a reminder of the constant pressure and threats that present in our region to our own national security.”
But New Zealand Defence Minister Peeni Henare said he and his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton were caught off guard by the reports.
“We were both surprised because the intelligence we were getting didn’t exactly match that,” he said.
“We knew that there were some challenges there, with respect to China, but the leaked draft agreement … it did catch me as a surprise and even Minister Dutton.”
