China eyes security pacts with more Pacific nations after Solomon Islands: Financial Times report

Kiribati and at least one other nation in talks with Beijing, report says, citing intelligence official from US ally

China’s foreign ministry did not respond to the FT ’s requests for comment

Reading Time:1 minute

Chinese President Xi Jinping with Kiribati counterpart Taneti Maamau in Beijing in 2020. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:55pm, 21 May 2022

China is negotiating security deals with two more Pacific nations following its agreement with the Solomon Islands last month, the Financial Times newspaper reported, citing officials in the US and allied countries.

Beijing’s talks with Kiribati are at the most advanced stage, the newspaper said, adding it was discussing a pact with at least one other Pacific country. The agreements would cover much the same ground as the deal with the Solomon Islands, it said, citing an intelligence official from a US ally.

China has had Kiribati, which switched its diplomatic allegiance to Beijing from Taiwan in 2019, in its sights for years, the report said.

China’s foreign ministry did not respond to the FT’s requests for comment.

Australia and the US have publicly voiced their objections to the agreement between China and the Solomon Islands. Although a final version of the document has not been made public, a draft version released in March showed Chinese military warships were on track to be allowed a safe harbour just 2,000km (1,200 miles) from the Australian coastline.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x