Australia ‘lost its way’ in the Pacific as China scaled up influence, says ex-envoy to Solomon Islands

Retired career diplomat Trevor Sofield said it was ‘inconceivable’ that the Solomons did not trust Australia enough to consult it about the China security pact

‘We had a vision’, the former high commissioner told a security summit. ‘But we’ve lost that vision and we’ve lost that trust that we developed over time’

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured on the campaign trail in Sydney. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP

Published: 3:03pm, 16 May 2022Updated: 4:18pm, 16 May 2022

A former Australian envoy to the Solomon Islands has accused Australia’s government of losing the trust of Pacific island countries and of ushering in greater Chinese influence.

Retired career diplomat Trevor Sofield told a security summit on Monday he found it “inconceivable” that the Solomons government did not trust Australia enough to consult when a bilateral security pact with Beijing was first considered.

“That would not have happened a few years ago,” said Sofield, who was Australian high commissioner to the Solomons from 1982 to 1985.

Former Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Trevor Sofield gestures after he is stopped from speaking to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Tasmania last week. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP

The pact, which was concluded last month, has been a major issue ahead of Australian elections on Saturday.

Australia and its allies including the United States fear the pact will result in a Chinese naval presence less than 2,000km (1,200 miles) from the northeast Australian coast.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison argues that he is better able than opposition leader Anthony Albanese to take on the security threats posed by China and to strengthen relations with Washington, Australia’s most important defence partner.

Sofield, who was manhandled by security staff when he attempted to speak to Morrison at a campaign event last week, said Australia had “lost its way” in the Pacific as China scaled up its influence in the region.