Solomon Islands says security deal with China to have no negative impact on region

ANKARA (AA) - The Solomon Islands prime minister asked his neighboring countries on Wednesday to respect the nation's sovereignty and assured them that his government's security agreement with China will have no negative impact on the region.

Manasseh Sogavare said his country has made a sovereign decision to broaden its security cooperation with more countries, according to a statement issued by the government, as he announced the formal signing of the security cooperation agreement with China in parliament.

“I ask all our neighbors, friends and partners to respect the sovereign interests of the Solomon Islands on the assurance that the decision will not adversely impact or undermine the peace and harmony of our region," he said.

On Tuesday, China confirmed that it has signed the security agreement with the Solomon Islands, a country in Oceania comprising six major islands and over 900 smaller islands to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.

Under the deal, China will help the Solomon Islands enhance its security, and provide the latest equipment to police force to enable them to deal with any future instability.

His statement came after officials from the US, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand officials expressed concern over the deal.

On Tuesday, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement that senior officials from the US, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand met in Honolulu on Monday and discussed the developments in the Pacific Islands.

"Officials from the four countries represented also shared concerns about a proposed security framework between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Watson said, adding that senior administration officials from Washington will pay a visit this week to Hawaii, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

Australia and New Zealand are concerned that China would build a military base in the Solomon Islands as part of the security deal.

But Sogavare insisted that his government's decision will have no adverse impact on the region.

“We will not allow any threats from within Solomon Islands to threaten regional stability. Solomon Islands's stability is the region’s stability,” he said.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid