China Foreign Minister likely to visit Solomons

Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi is likely to visit the Solomon Islands in coming weeks. A senior Solomon Islands government source told the ABC that preparations had begun for Wang to visit the

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Felled by its own Failures – How Australia’s inaction to reform logging in the Solomon Islands has let China in

We have watched these past few weeks as the evolving situation surrounding the Solomon Islands/China security pact has unfolded. It appears that every journalist and political commentator is suddenly an expert in the

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U.S-Solomon Islands bilateral talks a success

On the China-Solomon Islands Security Cooperation, “We have no say on the SI-China agreement. We respect Solomon Islands sovereign decision. There is no misunderstanding,” stated the White House Official. 

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China and Solomon Islands sign security deal

China has signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands just days ahead of a visit by senior U.S government officials to the South Pacific country, exacerbating western fears over Beijing’s growing influence in the

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Senior U.S officials visits Solomon Islands this week

White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell and the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, will lead a delegation to Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea

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Canberra’s tired old script has led to a less democratic Solomon Islands and a less secure Australia

China must be hoping that Australia persists in its “business as usual” approach to Solomon Islands. An appeasement policy by Australia towards the Solomons prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has been outstandingly

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Australia asks PM Sogavare to avoid security deal

Australia Minister Zed Seselja met with Prime Minister Sogavare in Honiara, in light of the proposed China-Solomon Islands security

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Rethinking Solomon Islands security

It has been an interesting couple of weeks for Solomon Islands, with stories of policing, weapons, replica weapons and a security agreement with China dominating the local and regional media. Let’s start with the

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Solomon Islands PM assures no Chinese military base

Amid a regional backlash, the Solomon Islands said it would not allow a Chinese military base in the Pacific islands nation despite its plans to sign a security pact with Beijing. Following the initialling of a draft

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FSM President appeals to Sogavare

The Federated States of Micronesia leader has spoken out against the proposed security deal between Solomon Islands and China. President David W. Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) wrote to Solomon

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Additional COVID funding postpones aid cuts

Faced with the prospect of another cut to aid while the COVID-19 pandemic continues – and in some ways intensifies in our region – the government has again reached for the “temporary and targeted” lever to avoid

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Australia hands over Blackrock as China concerns re-emerge

The opening of the Blackrock Camp in Nadi this month signified the culmination of “close to a A$100 million investment” by the Australian government designed to support Fiji’s peacekeeping and humanitarian

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