China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in the Solomon Islands, the first stop on a tour of eight countries in the Pacific, where he is seeking a comprehensive regional agreement on security and trade.
Key points:
- Yi will meet with Manasseh Sogavare while Australian Foreign Minister is in Fiji
- China will seek an agreement with 10 countries in the Pacific Islands, according to a draft statement
- The local media in Honiara are planning to boycott the press conference of Mr. Wang due to restrictions
The Solomon Islands have rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Wang, who was received by Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele when he landed in Honiara in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Wang met with Manele and Solomon Islands Governor-General Sir David Vunagi early today and is expected to meet with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare this afternoon, a month after it was revealed that the two countries are sign a security pact.
Australia, the United States, Japan and New Zealand have expressed concern over the deal, saying it could give China a military foothold in the Pacific.
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele welcomes his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
A leaked draft statement shows that China will seek an agreement with 10 Pacific island countries covering police, security, trade, the sea and data communication.
The Solomon Islands government said in a statement that Mr. Wang would sign a series of cooperation agreements between the two countries on a two-day visit. The Chinese delegation of 44 includes deputy foreign ministers, trade, environment and intelligence officials.
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reported that Sogavare welcomed the high-level visit from China, one of the Pacific nation’s leading development partners.
“We will always be true to our policy of friends for all and enemies for no one,” he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a news conference in Washington DC that the Pacific is home to New Zealand and that any security challenge should be addressed by the nations of the Pacific.
“I see (the statement) how China is trying to increase its commitment to sovereign nations, but it is expanding into a space where, in reality, the need for security agreements, we can meet in our region,” he said. to say.
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In anticipation of his meeting with Senator Wong today, and Mr. Wang on Monday, Mr. Bainimarama tweeted on Wednesday that “at all tables, what matters most is our people and our planet, as well as respect for international law “.
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in Fiji on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, her first visit to the Pacific since she was sworn in on Monday.
A few days after taking office, Senator Wong wasted no time in indicating Labor’s intention to work more closely with Pacific Island nations, sharing an address to Pacific leaders on Twitter shortly after swearing in and traveling to Fiji barely 24 hours after returning from a quad meeting in Tokyo.
Ahead of Senator Wong’s keynote address, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna said on Twitter that he “says a lot that his first bilateral visit as Foreign Minister is to our region. of the Blue Pacific. “
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Honiara press to boycott the press conference
Little is known about the details of Mr Wang’s trip, and this could be compounded by a media boycott of a press conference to be held by Chinese official and Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele after the media communication learn of the restrictions.
“According to the program, the press will have the opportunity to ask just two questions,” said Solomon Islands Media Association (MASI) President Georgina Kekea in a statement.
“One of the Solomon Islands journalists addressed to the Solomon Islands Foreign Minister and one of the Chinese media, addressed to his Foreign Minister,” he said.
“How ridiculous is that?”
He said journalists should be able to ask questions on behalf of the people.
“What is the purpose of hosting such an event for the press when they are only allowed one question and only addressed to their Foreign Minister?”
He said the boycott was not intended to disrespect the government, but to show the media’s disagreement with the restrictions.
ABC / children
Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 4:26 AM, updated 11 minutes ago, 11 minutes ago, Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 6:29 AM