U.S., Australia, and New Zealand express concerns.
Earlier this week, the White House announced in a press briefing that the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell would be leading a delegation of U.S. government officials to the Solomon Islands, as well as Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The U.S. has said it will re-open its embassy in the Solomon Islands, which has been closed since 1993. The delegation was anticipating high-level talks.
Now the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands has announced that the government signed a security agreement with China one day before, raising concerns among Western nations. He emphasized that the agreement would “not adversely impact or undermine the peace and harmony” of the region.
Prior to the signing of the pact, New Zealand’s Prime Minister expressed her concerns about the pact. “We see such acts as a potential militarization of the region and also see very little reason in terms of the Pacific security for such a need and such a presence.” She added, “We do see this as gravely concerning.”
The Solomon Islands leadership had rebuffed last-ditch efforts by Australia—its biggest aid donor—to stop the deal.
China said the agreement would allow it to send law enforcement and security services there upon request. The U.S. and its allies fear that this will allow China to establish a naval base or foothold in the 992-island archipelago.
The Solomon Islands were the site of the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II where a heroic victory gave the U.S. and its allies supremacy in the Pacific.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For State Department officials as they cultivate diplomatic relations with international ministers.
- For Assistant Secretary of State Kritenbrink and NSC Coordinator Campbell as they work with foreign leaders in East Asia.
- That the president and his administration would seek God’s leading in their dealings with China.
Sources: Forbes, Yahoo News, BBC
