The newly appointed Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Matthew Wale, stated on Wednesday in Canberra, Australia, that the Solomon Islands will review the security agreement signed with China in 2022 and engage in comprehensive strategic treaty negotiations with Australia to “reset” bilateral relations.
According to Reuters, Wale expressed the Solomon Islands’ desire to strengthen security and economic cooperation with Australia after meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Wale said, “The Solomon Islands is a friend of Australia, has been in the past, and will be in the future.” He also noted that in recent years, there have been “some issues” in the relationship between the two countries, hence the effort to reboot bilateral relations.
In 2022, the Solomon Islands signed a security cooperation agreement with China, raising concerns internationally that Beijing might establish a military presence in the South Pacific, drawing attention from the United States and Australia.
Wale, who was once one of the strongest critics of the agreement, revealed that he only obtained the complete copy of the agreement recently.
He mentioned, “I had to change some personnel in key positions. I even got hold of the agreement just the day before departure.”
Due to confidentiality clauses in the agreement, Wale stated that it cannot be disclosed publicly at this stage, but his government will conduct a formal review of the agreement.
He pointed out, “We will review it just as we review security agreements with other countries.”
Australia has been intensifying its cooperation with Pacific Island nations in recent years to counter China’s expanding influence in the region.
Albanese expressed Australia’s aspiration to become the “preferred security partner” in the Pacific region.
He said, “We hope to collectively safeguard regional security in the Pacific family.”
Both leaders announced the initiation of negotiations for a new “comprehensive strategic treaty,” covering areas such as security, economic, and development cooperation.
However, neither leader clarified whether the new treaty would include clauses limiting Chinese involvement in key infrastructure projects.
Previously, Australia had signed similar strategic agreements with Pacific countries like Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and Nauru.
The Australian government also announced providing approximately 35 million Australian dollars in aid to the Solomon Islands to help address the impact of Tropical Cyclone Maila and the pressures caused by rising global energy prices.
Additionally, the Solomon Islands agreed to join the Pacific Policing Initiative and advance the previously signed 190-million-dollar policing cooperation agreement with Australia.
The Prime Minister’s Office of Australia highlighted that the collaboration would enhance the policing and regional security capacities of the Solomon Islands.
Connor Graham, a researcher at the Lowy Institute, mentioned that the Wale government was sending “very clear signals” to Australia.
However, he also pointed out that the Solomon Islands are unlikely to completely abandon their cooperation with China.
Graham noted, “Taking a step towards Canberra does not necessarily mean moving away from Beijing.”
In 2019, the Solomon Islands severed ties with Taiwan and recognized Beijing, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough for China in the South Pacific at that time.