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No intention of building military base in Solomon Islands, our security agreement not targeted at any third party: China

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is currently on an official visit to South Pacific island countries starting to boost bilateral ties with strategically located island nations. Dismissing international concerns about the security agreement Beijing sealed last month with Honiara, Wang Yi said it was “above board, with honesty and integrity”.

TN National Desk

Updated May 26, 2022, 20:14 IST

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Photo : ANI

New Delhi: China has no intention at all to build a military base in the Solomon Islands, said China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.

The Chinese Foreign Minister is currently on an official visit to South Pacific island countries starting to boost bilateral ties with strategically located island nations.

Dismissing international concerns about the security agreement Beijing sealed last month with Honiara, Wang Yi said it was “above board, with honesty and integrity”.

He further stressed that the security cooperation between the two countries is open and is not imposed on others, nor targeted at any third party.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the two sides agreed to join hands to forge flagship mega-projects of the Road and Belt Initiative (BRI) and make good use of the preferential policies for tariff-free exports to China and help the Solomon Islands fully tap its resource advantages and development potentials.

Earlier in April, the Solomon Islands issued a clarification saying it won’t allow any foreign country to build military bases in the country following the speculations that were raised after the signing of security cooperation with China.

“Government is conscious of the security ramification of hosting a military base, and it will not be careless to allow such initiative to take place under its watch,” a government statement said.

Contrary to the misinformation promoted by anti-government commentators the security agreement did not invite China to establish a military base in the country, The Diplomat reported.

The MoU on security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands signed on March 18 will allow China to send police, Armed Police, military personnel and other law enforcement forces to the Solomon Islands, on request, to assist in maintaining social order and accomplish other tasks agreed upon by both countries.

The security agreement will also allow Chinese naval vessels to carry out logistical replenishments and Chinese armed forces can be moved to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands.

As per Article 5 of the MoU, the nature of cooperation agreed upon cannot be disclosed to a “third party” without the consent of both parties.

Australia has expressed concerns over the signing of the security partnership as it views the development as part of an attempt by China to establish a military base in the region.

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