Australia will provide the Solomon Islands with more than $17 million for the Pacific Games as a slate of ministers and top U.S. diplomats tour the region to combat Chinese influence.
Pacific Minister Pat Conroy has met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to discuss the Sino-Solomons security pact signed earlier this year.
Conroy says he received reassurances Australia remained the island nation’s security partner of choice, and there would be no foreign military bases or persistent military presence in the Solomons.
“It was a very warm and friendly meeting, and we discussed a range of issues. Our security partnership was obviously one part of that,”  Conroy told reporters in Honiara on Tuesday….