New Zealand’s foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, said on Wednesday that New Zealand had made clear to both the Solomon Islands and China its grave concerns at the pact’s potential to destabilize the Pacific region. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Solomon Islands were breaching an agreement within the main regional grouping, the Pacific Island Forum, for nations to discuss defense matters with the group before making major decisions. Campbell met on Wednesday in Suva with Fiji’s prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, to discuss regional security, the U.S. embassy said, and will also travel to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. An leaked draft included provisions for Chinese naval vessels to replenish in the Solomon Islands, alarming Australia. “Let me assure the people of the Solomon Islands that we entered into an arrangement with China with our eyes wide open guided by our national interests,” he said.

Source: Stuff April 20, 2022 07:23 UTC