China’s new security agreement with the Solomon Islands has sparked controversy and garnered attention far beyond the relatively remote Southwest Pacific. Dr Euan Graham examines the drivers and implications for the major actors in this strategically sensitive location.
In April, China’s foreign ministry confirmed that Beijing had signed a minimum five-year security agreement with the Solomon Islands. The deal, which Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare described as a ‘treaty’ to the Solomon Islands Parliament, has not been made public. But it is thought to be close to a version leaked from within the Solomon Islands government in late March. The implications of the agreement are far-reaching, most importantly for China, the Solomon Islands, Australia and the United States.
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