Honiara (AFP), May 25 – China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, with one regional leader calling it a thinly veiled effort to lock them into “Beijing’s orbit”. The “comprehensive development vision” is believed to be up for approval when Wang meets regional foreign ministers on May 30 in Fiji. It also prohibited the Solomon Islands from speaking publicly about the deal’s contents without China’s permission. Beijing’s latest proposal would effectively expand key elements of the Solomon Islands deal to nine other small Pacific nations. Solomon Islands’ journalists are threatening to boycott coverage after a “joint press conference” planned for Thursday evening was to feature only questions from state media.

Source: Daily Nation May 25, 2022 14:41 UTC