Wang Yi, China's Foreign Affairs minister and Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister of Solomon Islands, jointly unveil the nameplate of the Solomon Islands embassy in Beijing. Photo: ZHAI JIANLAN/XINHUA
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has leaped to the defence of China saying its strategic interests are misunderstood.
Sogavare has been visiting China this week and signed a number of agreements - including a police cooperation deal which has triggered concern - as well as opening the Solomon Islands embassy in Beijing.
Voice of America reported in response to the signing of the agreements, the US and Australia have urged Beijing and Honiara to release details of the policing deal.
The agreements he mentioned at the opening include a bilateral framework of cooperation, formalising a non-reciprocal trade arrangement, taking part in the first high-level forum on shared action for global development; and signing a biosecurity arrangement including aviation arrangements to facilitate movement of people and goods and services.
The prime minister told Chinese media the partnership with "your great country China" is the way to go forward.
"It is really unfortunate... all the nonsense we are hearing is basically that, a misunderstanding of what China is doing," he said.
"China has no other strategic interests other than Taiwan and, of course, the South China Sea.
"Any country in the world will not be comfortable if you start to intrude into areas which are seen as existential threats by any country. And China is no different."
China and the US have been in a geopolitical power struggle for influence in the Pacific for some time.
But Sogavare also reiterated the Pacific is not owned by anyone.
"Solomon Islands and other Pacific island countries are not [the] backyard of any other country.
"We are sovereign nations and capable of making our own decisions."
Comment 'undiplomatic' says opposition leader
Solomons' opposition leader Matthew Wale had criticised Sogavare's words in Beijing, where he reportedly told Chinese officials "I am back home".
Wale said it was shocking to hear such a statement on foreign soil in light of Sogavare's pledge during last week's national day celebrations - to pursue an independent foreign policy that does not take sides in the geopolitical struggle between China and the United States.
"For a Prime Minister to imply that China is his home is undiplomatic," Wale said.
He called for Sogavare to quickly clarify his statement.
The opposition also said the lack of transparency in the nine new agreements Sogavare has signed with China is "outrageous".
Wale claimed some government ministers were not aware of the deals and questioned whether Cabinet had agreed to them.
On this trip, Sogavare has opened the Solomon Islands embassy in Beijing.
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reported Sogavare saying the opening of the embassy celebrates China-Solomon Islands relations.
"Solomon Islands took the decision to establish relations with its 'eyes wide open'," he said.
"We have not looked back since, and pleased to see the bilateral cooperation between Solomon Islands and China have grown from strength to strength."
Manasseh Sogavare has met with president of China, Xi Jinping. Photo: Facebook.com/SIBC
