. Earth Science News .
WATER WORLD
Solomons PM tells Australia no Chinese military presence
by AFP Staff Writers
Sydney (AFP) Oct 7, 2022

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said Friday he has assured Australia that his nation will not allow a Chinese military presence in its territory.

The island nation has been at the centre of a diplomatic tussle in the southern Pacific Ocean between the United States, Australia and their allies on one side and an increasingly assertive China on the other.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Sogavare in Canberra on Thursday to smooth ties that have been frayed since the Solomons signed a security pact with Beijing this year -- a move that sparked fears of Chinese military presence in the region.

"About China, this is a sensitive issue we discussed and I assured Australia when I met with Anthony Albanese yesterday that we will not allow such to happen," Sogavare said in a written reply to questions sent by AFP.

Previously, however, Sogavare has said that China would be permitted to build wharves and airports -- which could be useful for both civilian and military purposes.

Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2019 and signed its security pact with China earlier this year.

Last year in November, violent demonstrations broke out in the Solomons capital Honiara, sparked in part by China's growing influence in the country but also fuelled by poverty and inter-island rivalries.

Much of Honiara's Chinatown was torched.

Further such riots were "highly unlikely", Sogavare told AFP, saying his government had put in place measures to control any violence.

The Solomons-Australia relationship has been strained in recent months.

Canberra in September offered to help Solomon Islands fund its upcoming national elections -- an offer Sogavare initially condemned but later accepted.

The Solomon Islands government has been sensitive to criticism of its ties to China.

Earlier this year, Sogavare threatened to ban foreign media after Australia's national broadcaster aired a report about rising Chinese influence in the Solomons.

Sogavare said he expressed concern to Albanese about the conduct of Australian journalists, accusing them of "failing to abide by the standards when reporting about our affairs".

This week, Solomons Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele said he was "not comfortable" with indirect references to China in a draft US-Pacific partnership declaration.

And Sogavare told the United Nations in September that his country had been "vilified" for its relationship with Beijing.


Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


WATER WORLD
Biden ramps up aid in Pacific Islands summit as China clout grows
Washington (AFP) Sept 30, 2022
US President Joe Biden has announced $810 million in new funding for Pacific Islands at a first-of-a-kind summit with their leaders in Washington, vowing a closer partnership with a strategic but sparsely populated region where China is making inroads. Addressing leaders of South Pacific states including 12 heads of state or government, Biden said Thursday he wanted to show an "enduring commitment." "The security of America, quite frankly, and the world depends on your security," he said. A ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

WATER WORLD
Neighbors, rescuers search for missing after Venezuela landslide

GMV joins UN Global Compact

US hurricane rebuilding rules must adapt to 'era of climate change': expert

NASA study finds climate extremes affect landslides in surprising ways

WATER WORLD
Solstar provides assured communications for deorbiting LEO satellites as FCC issues new order

Record quarterly profit for Indian software giant TCS

Facebook parent Meta unveils AI video generator Make-a-Video

Some everyday materials have memories, and now they can be erased

WATER WORLD
Solomons PM tells Australia no Chinese military presence

Why the Salton Sea is turning into toxic dust

To save California coasts, scientists turn to the humble oyster

Heat-resilient Red Sea reefs offer last stand for corals

WATER WORLD
At the gateway to the Arctic, a world in turmoil

US releases new Arctic strategy as climate threat grows

Receding ice leaves Canada's polar bears at rising risk

Glass microspheres won't save Arctic sea ice

WATER WORLD
Kenya lobby groups protest lifting of ban on GM crops

'Exceptional' year for Champagne despite record heat: producers

Trimble's new agriculture displays provide next-generation performance and connectivity for in-field operations

Dutch see new hope in report to break nitrogen impasse

WATER WORLD
Hurricane Ian death toll climbs above 100 in Florida alone

Hurricane Julia slams Nicaragua, menaces Central America

Rising water level hampering Nigeria river rescue

Why more Americans are flocking to Florida, even as hurricanes intensify

WATER WORLD
Deadly Burkina jihadist attack, catalyst for latest coup

Mali's army launches probe into alleged killings of civilians

I.Coast president sees progress in Mali troop spat

Doubts over Ethiopia peace talks as Kenya envoy says won't attend

WATER WORLD
Swedish scientist's study on Neanderthal genes wins Nobel Prize for medicine

A "golden era" to study the brain

Chimpanzee stone tool diversity

Study: Injured brain's ability to heal may hinge on time of day, circadian rhythms









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.