Solomon Islands’ prime minister, saying it had been maligned for China pact, denounces US

Name: China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability
Uploaded: 2022-09-23T22:08:10.000Z
Duration: 2 min 17 s
Description: China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability

Manasseh Sogavare tells the UN General Assembly the Solomons had endured ‘a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced criticisms, misinformation and intimidations’

Solomons became a cause of concern for Washington after it emerged that Sogavare had signed a security agreement allowing the Chinese navy to dock in the islands

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Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday at UN headquarters in New York. Photo: AP

Robert Delaney

Published: 6:08am, 24 Sep 2022Updated: 7:06am, 24 Sep 2022

The prime minister of the Solomon Islands told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that his country had been maligned over its closer relationship with China to the point of “intimidation”.

In a speech that included language that echoed Beijing’s, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also decried Washington’s engagement with Taiwan and its plan to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines through the Aukus alliance announced last year.

He also took a swipe at Japan for Tokyo’s decision to dump radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.

“The Solomon Islands have been unfairly targeted since formalising diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China just over three years ago,” Sogavare said.

“We have been subjected to a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced criticisms, misinformation and intimidations that threatens our democracy and sovereignty.”

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

The decision to formalise a relationship with Beijing, Sogavare added, “was reached through democratic processes by a democratically elected government”.