The Solomon Islands said Tuesday it had objected to the first draft of a US-Pacific partnership declaration because it was “not comfortable” with some indirect references to China. These “put us in a position that we have to choose sides and we don’t want to be placed in a position that we have to choose sides”, Manele said. But in recent years China has asserted itself strongly through investment, police training and, most controversially, a security pact with Solomon Islands. Manele, speaking in Wellington after meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta, said both China and the United States were welcome in the Pacific. Read more: Pacific islands become new battle zone between China & US“There is no provision for a military base in that agreement.

Source: Stuff October 04, 2022 08:05 UTC