A former Australian diplomat warns that the new Solomon Islands and China security pact could see Australian and Chinese troops on the ground in the Pacific nation at the same time.
Key points:
- Australia deploys peacekeeping force in Honiara after anti-Chinese riots took place in November last year
- Under the Solomon Islands-China Security Agreement, Beijing could also send military forces to the Pacific nation
- Former diplomat James Batley says it could lead to a “difficult” situation if Australian and Chinese forces are in Honiara at the same time.
“Given the radically different origins of our two countries, this is a potentially very difficult situation,” said James Batley, a former Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands and China signed a comprehensive security agreement in April that paves the way for Beijing to send police and military forces to the Pacific nation.
Australia currently has security forces stationed in the capital Honiara in response to a request from the Solomon Islands government following the anti-Chinese riots last November.
Australia also led the Solomon Islands Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) between 2003 and 2017 to help the country deal with ethnic violence.
Australian Defense Force personnel were sent to Honiara to provide stability and security following the November riots. (AP: Department of Defense)
But Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Chinese television last month that it was important for Pacific nations to have other security partners as well.
“If there’s a riot here and we can’t manage it locally, we’ll need all of our friends to come on board to help us,” he said.
Former Solomon Islands Prime Minister and current MP Rick Hou is concerned about how the new security deal with China will work.
Solomon Islands MP Rick Hou strongly opposes the pact with China. (ABC News: Sue Lannin)
“Sogavare is not lacking in controversy, it will come [something] this will trigger another riot or another demonstration, “he said at 7.30am.
“And who knows what will happen? Instead of calling the Australians, he will call the Chinese army here. I don’t know, but that’s very, very possible.”
James Batley led RAMSI in 2006, when Prime Minister Sogavare – then in his second term – had a fight with Canberra over the management of Australia’s mission.
“I think the relationship has been pretty up and down over a pretty long period of time,” Batley said.
“I don’t think Mr Sogavare has any real experience or background in Australia, so I don’t think he has any natural sympathies there.
“He has certainly appreciated some of the things that Australia has done for his country, especially through the intervention of RAMSI.
“But he is certainly a very nationalist leader.”
The next election is critical
University of Hawaii Pacific analyst Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka says the next critical development could be the timing of the Solomon Islands general election.
“Elections are scheduled for next year, [but] the government is trying to push it back one more year, “he said.
“There is resistance to prolonging the life of parliament. The government, however, has the numbers.”
“It will be interesting, given that there has been a lot of discussion, especially among young people, about the relationship with China, [and] whether that will affect the election. “
China’s ambassador to Solomon Islands Li Ming and Solomon Islands diplomat Colin Beck agree to a security treaty between the two countries.
The change of government in Australia could help relations with the Solomon Islands, according to Dr. Wesley Morgan of the Griffith Asia Institute.
Climate change rhetoric, he argues, is important.
“There is no doubt that Australia’s reluctance to reduce emissions at home has affected relations with the Pacific nations, including the Solomon Islands,” he said.
“Prime Minister Sogavare has said that climate change is a matter of life and death for his country.
“This will be an ongoing conversation.”
Watch this story at 7.30pm tonight on ABC TV and ABC iview.