Beijing’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed a contentious security pact that will pave the way for Chinese troops and weapons to be stationed in the South Pacific has been officially signed with the Solomon Islands’ leadership.
The comments from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has sparked finger-pointing in Australian political circles over the success—and failures—of diplomatic engagement in the region.
Wang confirmed on April 19 that the “Framework Agreement Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Government of Solomon Islands on Security Cooperation” had been signed between the PRC’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Solomon Islands’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeremiah Manele. The latest apparent signing comes after an earlier official “initialling” of the agreement between foreign representatives in late March.
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