Solomon Islands: Japan sends envoy as Australia warns of Chinese military base ‘red line’
- Kentaro Uesugi is expected to convey Tokyo’s concern about the islands’ security pact with China, and discuss bilateral and regional issues
- It comes after Australian PM Scott Morrison said on Sunday that a Chinese military base in the Solomon Islands would be a ‘red line’ for his government
Kentaro Uesugi’s three-day trip to Solomon Islands comes on the heels of a visit by a senior US delegation, who warned that Washington would take unspecified action against the South Pacific nation should the security deal with China pose a threat to US or allied interests.
The security pact, which China and the Solomons confirmed last week, has also alarmed neighbouring countries and Western allies, including Japan, that fear a military build-up in the region.
“We believe the deal could affect the security of the entire Asia-Pacific region and we are watching the development with concern,” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday.
Uesugi, during his visit to the Solomon Islands, is expected to convey Japan’s concern about the security pact and discuss bilateral and regional issues.
Japan sees China’s increasingly assertive military activity in the East and South China seas as a threat in some of the world’s busiest sea lanes.
Tokyo is especially concerned about Chinese military and coastguard activity in the East China Sea near the disputed Diaoyu Islands, which Japan controls and calls the Senkakus.