Solomon Islands Draft Deal With China Enrages Australia, New Zealand

Solomon Islands has confirmed it is drafting a security deal with China - a move that's triggered alarm in neighboring Australia and other Western allies in the Indo-Pacific, Frances Mao reported for BBC News.

Photo Insert: Security analysts say the plans reveal China's clear intention in the region for the first time.

Leaked papers indicate a Chinese military base could potentially be set up on the island to Australia's north, Reuters and the Associated Press (AP) reported, raising hackles in Australia, long the chief defense partner and biggest aid donor to the tiny island, which was rattled by anti-Chinese riots last year.

Both Australia and New Zealand said it had raised concerns with Honiara. Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she respected the Pacific island's right to make sovereign decisions but "we would be particularly concerned by any actions that undermine the stability and security of our region, including the establishment of a permanent presence such as a military base."

New Zealand said it was also concerned as the plan threatened to "destabilize the current institutions and arrangements that have long underpinned the Pacific region's security."

The Solomon Islands did not confirm the details of the leaked draft agreement, or if it was the finalized version. But on Friday it said it was "expanding" security arrangements with more countries and "diversifying the country's security partnership including with China."

The details of the leaked plans have particularly concerned Australia, which is just 2000km (1,400 miles) south of the Solomon Islands. The papers set out a framework that could allow Beijing to deploy forces to "protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands."

The tiny Pacific nation could also "request China to send police, armed police, military personnel, and other law enforcement and armed forces", according to the document.

There is also provision for China to "make ship visits, to carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands."

Security analysts say the plans reveal China's clear intention in the region for the first time.

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