Biden adviser Kurt Campbell in Solomon Islands days after China security pact signed
- The senior White House official will also discuss plans to open a US embassy in the island nation
- His visit came as Beijing and Honiara this week signed the agreement despite Western concerns over regional security
Despite a flurry of calls from Washington and its allies not to go ahead with the deal, China and the Solomon Islands said this week they had signed the agreement, with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare telling parliament on Wednesday it would not undermine peace.
Sogavare on Friday will join China’s ambassador Li Ming for the handover of facilities donated by Beijing for Honiara to host the 2023 Pacific Games, the prime minister’s office and the Chinese embassy said.
Pentagon warns China-Solomons security deal could be destabilising
The security pact is a major inroad for Beijing in the Pacific, raising the prospect of a Chinese military presence less than 2,000km from Australia.
US allies Australia, New Zealand and the Federated States of Micronesia have expressed concern the pact would disrupt regional security, allowing Chinese naval vessels to replenish in Honiara. The Solomon Islands in 2019 switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing.
Campbell had been expected to urge Sogavare against signing the security agreement, a draft of which was leaked by police sources last month and published on social media. Australian officials said Campbell’s visit likely prompted China and the Solomon Islands to announce they had sealed the pact.
The US statement said Campbell’s delegation will also discuss “plans to open a US embassy in Honiara”.
New Zealand and Tonga have said they will raise the Solomon Islands security deal with China at an upcoming meeting of Pacific Islands Forum leaders.
Sogavare has ruled out hosting a Chinese military base. He said the pact, details of which have not been disclosed, will allow Chinese police to protect Beijing-funded infrastructure projects in the Solomon Islands.
Campbell said in January the Pacific was the part of the world most likely to see “strategic surprise” in terms of basing arrangements, and the US and allies Australia, New Zealand, Japan and France needed to step up in the region.
