Solomon Islands PM Sogavare says nothing ‘threatening’ in new China maritime deal
- Manasseh Sogavare called the leaked memorandum of understanding on maritime investment as a ‘normal bilateral development initiative’ that is yet to be formalised
- His comments came after both sides signed a security pact last month that sparked alarm in Australia and the US
Solomon Islands’ prime minister dismissed criticism of a new maritime investment deal with China on Wednesday, saying there was nothing “sinister” in the draft agreement.
The security pact gave Beijing a military foothold in the South Pacific, and sparked alarm in Australia and the United States.
On Wednesday, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare shrugged off criticism about the separate leaked memorandum of understanding on maritime investment, describing it as a “normal bilateral development initiative” that is yet to be formalised.
“There is nothing sinister nor trivial about the Blue Economy Memorandum of Understanding,” his office said in a statement.
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Morrison said he was “very concerned, as many other Pacific leaders are, about the interference and intrusion of the Chinese government into these types of arrangements”.
That draft allowed for Chinese naval deployments in the Solomon Islands, eliciting a warning from the US that it would “respond accordingly” if China installed a military base in the Pacific archipelago.
In April, Sogavare said that his government would not allow a Chinese military base to be built in his country “under its watch”.
The latest leaked maritime investment deal, dated just “2022”, covered investment in wharves, shipbuilding and ship repair, offshore gas and oil exploration and other “blue economy” industries.
Sogavare’s Wednesday statement said the memorandum of understanding was a broad document, which would be followed by a more detailed agreement.