“Don’t think of Pacific Islands as ‘backyards of the West'” Criticism
The Solomon Islands, an island nation in the South Pacific, expressed displeasure over concerns of neighboring countries about pursuing a security pact with China.
Prime Minister Manassi Sogabare said in a speech to Parliament on the 29th (local time) that he was “offensive” by Australia and New Zealand’s concerns that a security pact with China could destabilize the South Pacific region.
Prime Minister Sogabare said: “It is very offensive and regrettable to be branded as unsuitable for managing sovereignty matters or as having other motives to pursue the national interest.”
He also criticized the West not to regard the Pacific Islands as ‘the West’s backyard’, saying, “I am not pressured by a new friend (China) and I have no intention of asking them to build a military base.”
The Solomon Islands is a small island country with an area of 28,400 ㎦ to the east of Papua New Guinea.
However, a draft security agreement with China, which is being pursued by the Solomon Islands, was leaked online last week, causing a backlash from neighboring countries.
According to the draft, China will have the right to send troops to the Solomon Islands and even set up a naval base to protect the safety of its citizens and businesses.
While the West, including the United States, are working hard to block China’s advance into the Pacific Ocean, if this agreement is signed, China will secure the basis and justification for naval operations in the South Pacific and one step closer to the goal of building an ocean naval force. .
Prime Minister Sogabare admitted that an agreement was reached with China, without revealing the details of the agreement.
The two countries have not yet formally signed an agreement.
“It is clear that we need to diversify our relations with other countries for our security,” he said.
What’s wrong?” he asked.
Australia insisted that a Chinese naval base could be built within 2,000 kilometers of its northeast coast at the time of signing the agreement, while New Zealand was concerned that it could militarize the Pacific region.
In the Solomon Islands, domestic conflicts over pro-China diplomatic routes have continued since the establishment of diplomatic ties with China.
In November of last year, anti-government protests took place in various parts of the Solomon Islands, and some analysts say that accumulated dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Sogabare, who decided to cut ties with Taiwan, had an effect.
/yunhap news
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