Pacific Minister Pat Conroy has confirmed the Solomon Islands is committed to Australia’s position as the preferred security partner as China continues attempts to establish a foothold in the region.
Mr Conroy has met with ministerial counterparts in the Solomon Islands during his visit to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the key naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
Shared challenges in the security space along with health and education sectors were on top of the agenda during high-level meetings held in Honiara.
While China continues strengthening ties in the region, Mr Conroy said there was still a mood for cooperation with Australia among the Pacific Island nations.
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“There is a mood of I think contemplation or reflection about our shared security in the region and the need to work collectively towards securing that prosperity,” the minister told Sky News Australia’s Kieran Gilbert.
The trip comes almost six months after China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands which raised concerns Beijing could establish a permanent military presence less than 2,000 kilometres from Australian shores.
Solomon Island Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has repeatedly made assurances to the new Labor Government that he would not permit a Chinese naval base in his country.
Mr Conroy said Honiara’s position towards Beijing and Australia’s role in the region was reiterated to him a “number of times”.
“We certainly welcome the assurances from the Solomon Islands Prime Minister that there won’t be a foreign military base or a persistent military presence in the Solomon Islands,” he said.
“And we also welcome his assurance that Australia will be the security partner of choice for the Solomon Islands.
“And in my meetings with ministers today that message has been repeated a number of times to me that Australia is the security partner of choice.”
The Albanese Government has recently launched a new diplomatic blitz of the Pacific to re-establish Australia as the region’s preferred security partner.
Attempts by China to bundle several Pacific Island nations into a security deal raised concerns in Canberra during the May election.
China’s encroachment in the region has been overshadowed in recent months as tensions have built in the Taiwan Strait and the south and east China seas.
The People’s Liberation Army launched five high-powered missiles across the strait with one entering Japan’s exclusive economic zone over the weekend.
The ratcheting up of Chinese aggression has come in response to US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’ visit to Taiwan.
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