China accuses Australia of having ‘ulterior motive’ in voicing concern about draft Solomons pact

Name: China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability
Uploaded: 2022-05-11T13:00:24.000Z
Duration: 2 min 17 s
Description: China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability

Statement from the Chinese embassy in Honiara says Beijing welcomes the Pacific nation ‘to take a ride on China’s economic development express’

Any claim a naval base would be built in the Solomons was ‘a fake news story’, according to Chinese foreign ministry spokesman

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this week his country was “very aware of what the Chinese government’s ambitions are in the Pacific”. Photo: Reuters

Laura Zhou

Published: 9:00pm, 11 May 2022Updated: 10:29pm, 11 May 2022

Beijing has accused Australia of having an “ulterior motive” after Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed concerns over a leaked draft agreement between China and Solomon Islands aimed at further strengthening ties.

“China welcomes the Solomon Islands to take a ride on China’s economic development express and strengthen cooperation in economy, trade and other fields,” a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Honiara said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Some people are indifferent to the real challenges and development needs of the Pacific island countries such as the Solomon Islands, but are keen to dictate the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and the islands, obviously with ulterior motives,” the official said.

“I believe the people of the Pacific island countries can see that clearly.”

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China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability

On Monday, The Australian newspaper reported it had obtained a draft copy of a four-page “memorandum of understanding on deepening blue-economy cooperation” between China and Solomon Islands.