The leader of the Federated States of Micronesia on Wednesday appealed to the Solomon Islands government to scrap a China-Solomons security pact, citing “grave security concerns” and the risk of “increasing geopolitical tensions.” President David Panuelo wrote to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare saying that Micronesia “cannot endorse or agree” with the “unprecedented agreement” that will allow Beijing to station armed police and troops on the island. “The U.S. and China are increasingly at odds with one another,” he said, adding that the proposed treaty would be problematic for Micronesia, which has diplomatic relations with both China and the United States. Panuelo feared that the Pacific islands will become the “epicenter of a future confrontation between these major powers” as a result of the China-Solomons security pact, considering the islands’ role as a battleground during World War II. He urged Sogavare to reconsider the “longer-range consequences” of the agreement, warning …