Australia and its Pacific neighbours are calling for more transparency from the political leadership of the Solomon Islands regarding its security deal with China.
“[There’s] a concern that there has been a lack of transparency in relation to this agreement and that it is something that should be discussed in a broader Pacific Island Forum context itself,” Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
The minister said that Canberra has been given assurances by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare that its security agreement with China will not involve a Chinese military base being installed.
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