Azeri Press Agency
April 20, 2022

U.S, Japan, Australia and New Zealand concerned by Solomon Islands-China pact

The United States, Japan, New Zealand and Australia are concerned by a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Officials from the four countries represented also shared concerns about a proposed security framework between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

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Associated Press
April 19, 2022

US officials heading to Solomons over China pact worries

The US is sending two top officials to the Solomon Islands following a visit last week by an Australian senator over concerns that China could establish a military presence in the South Pacific island nation.

The White House said Monday that later this week, Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council Indo-Pacific coordinator, and Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, will lead a delegation of US government officials to the Solomon Islands, and will also visit Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

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US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the agreement could destabilise the Solomon Islands….

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Last week, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele about Washington’s plan to reopen an embassy in the capital, Honiara.

The announcement of the reopening of the embassy, which has been closed since 1993….