excalibur
Diamond Member
- Mar 19, 2015
- 22,765
- 44,343
- 2,290
Things are heating up in the Pacific.
BTW Guadalcanal is in the Solomons.
BTW Guadalcanal is in the Solomons.
Leaked documents purport to show plans for a security deal between China and the Pacific nation, which lies about 2,000km (1,200 miles) from Australia.
The ABC and Reuters report they have verified the draft document as genuine.
Australia has long been concerned over Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific, its nearest neighbours.
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called the apparent plans "one of the most significant security developments we have seen in decades" and "adverse to Australia's national security interests".
...
"We would be concerned, clearly, about any military base being established and we would express that to the Solomon Islands government," he told the local Nine Network.
The leaked papers set out a framework which could allow Beijing to deploy forces to "protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands".
The tiny Pacific nation could also "request China to send police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces", according to the document.
There is also provision for China to "make ship visits, to carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands".
...
Solomon Islands confirms China security draft, alarming Australia
Australia has concerns over their Pacific island neighbour allowing China a military base
www.bbc.com