Solomon Islands Prime Minister Says It Will Not Allow China A Military Base

The Diplomat: Solomon Islands Says It Will Not Allow China Military Base 

A draft security deal raised alarm in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is trying to assuage those concerns. 

Seeking to counter international fears over its new security alliance with China, the Solomon Islands said Friday it won’t allow China to build a military base there. But that insistence will do little to ease concerns about the pact from the nation’s traditional partners, including New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. 

The leader of neighboring Micronesia added his voice to those expressing trepidation by invoking the bloody battles of World War II and warning that the pact could again see the South Pacific region become a battleground for much larger powers.  

Read more .... 

Update #1: Solomon Islands won't allow Chinese military base, says PM's office (Reuters)  

Update #2: Solomon Islands says China security deal won't include military base (AP)  

WNU Editor: It looks like this treaty has a lot of opposition in the Solomon Islands .... Riot police guard Solomon Islands parliament after China security deal (1News).

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