China and Solomon Island Security Agreement

In April, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed Beijing had signed a minimum 5-year security agreement with Solomon Island. Though the issue didn't get much air time on news channels and still remains a major issue for many powerful nations. 

We will be going through the agreement, its implications, participant countries and their agenda and how it affects the balance of power in the Pacific with a fine tooth comb. But before that, we need to educate ourselves on the Solomon islands' topography, its location on the map and certain historical events relevant to the agreement.

Solomon island is located in Oceania in the South Pacific ocean, to its South-West lies Australia, and to its, East is Papua New Guinea, its Capital: Honiara.

2021, November: CIVIL UNREST

People of Solomon island began to protest against PM Manasseh Damukana Sogavare's government after Sogavare's government started favouring and supporting China's claim over Taiwan.

To rise to the occasion protestors formed a group known to be "Malaita for Democracy" (M4D) based in the capital Honiara, and started to influence others against the government in the region, riots spread like wildfire in the Honiara, as a result, M4D was declared an illegal organisation and order was given for suppression of the constitutional right of all members of M4D.

All the unrest lead to Australia sending its peacekeeping troops to the island nation, earlier in 2017 both the nations i.e. Australia and Solomon Islands signed a Bilateral Security Treaty, which makes sense seeing Australia is a developed county within geographical proximity, unlike the current security agreement with China, which resides in another hemisphere.

Details of the Agreement

Though the fine print of the agreement hadn't been made public, a leaked part of the document is accessed by the Australian government and verified a few clauses stating:

1) Maintaining social order

2) Providing humanitarian assistance

3) Carrying out disaster response

4) Use of Solomon island port for logistic replenishment.

Though Sogavare's government had dismissed the possibility of the Chinese setting up military units on Solomon's soil, a security agreement isn't only restricted to humanitarian aid and social welfare. It also does open up the possibility of conducting defence exercises, building up naval ports and military bases as well as deployment of military forces.

Solomon being an island nation does not have the resources or technology to further develop its economy, infrastructure, education system or any other sector. And china being a trader to its core recognizes the demand and supplied in full to Solomon's need, which evidently Australia couldn't.

SOGAVARE's POINT OF VIEW

PM Sogavare believe that it was western Interference that had caused the riot in the capital Honiara and therefore plan's to use his relationship with China and the security agreement as a deterrent against western interference and as a means of protection against internal threats to his rule. Furthermore, he also plans on exploiting geopolitical rivalry between China and Western powers to 'bid up' benefits and make a profit from these two forces. 

ISSUE FOR WEST

The major player of the Pacific, the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand surely have their plates full. In addition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine now China expanding its influence around the globe.

In 2018, a similar deal was proposed to Papua New Guinea by China, but it was countered by US and Australia with an even sweeter deal.

Australia's take on the China-Solomon security agreement is definitive and straightforward as the Australian representatives clearly state any military build-up by China in the region is a "Red Line" to Australia.

POSSIBLE OUTCOME?

The agreement itself isn't a big deal, but the party indulged is well known to lay debt traps through such deals. Furthermore its China's second attempt to gain power in the Oceania region.

It sure looks like the beginning of a power grapple in South-Pacific, seeing China having the largest Navy, but only limited to 1 foreign military base in Djibouti on the other side USA has a vast expansion over the globe with around 8oo military bases.

Lastly, Solomon using its strategic positioning in South-Pacific and its unexplored resources to bargain a deal with China, has surely become a precedent for other island nations to consider, seeing that the major countries are in a power grapple and are willing to provide multiple opportunities resulting in a boon for their economy.

This is my understanding of the China-Solomon deal, do share your thoughts.