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Micronesia Appeals to Solomon Islands to Scrap China Security Pact

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The leader of the Federated States of Micronesia on Wednesday appealed to the Solomon Islands government to scrap a China-Solomons security pact, citing “grave security concerns” and the risk of “increasing geopolitical tensions.”

President David Panuelo wrote to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare saying that Micronesia “cannot endorse or agree” with the “unprecedented agreement” that will allow Beijing to station armed police and troops on the island.

“The U.S. and China are increasingly at odds with one another,” he said, adding that the proposed treaty would be problematic for Micronesia, which has diplomatic relations with both China and the United States.

Panuelo feared that the Pacific islands will become the “epicenter of a future confrontation between these major powers” as a result of the China-Solomons security pact, considering the islands’ role as a battleground during World War II.

He urged Sogavare to reconsider the “longer-range consequences” of the agreement, warning that it could lead to the Pacific islands being fragmented and used as “tools for these larger countries’ spheres of power and influence.”

“Is it plausible that, once the spheres have been carved out, our concerns about climate change—today’s problem—would manifest into all-too-real concerns about a war in our backyards, with our people, our islands, as the playground for children playing as adults?” he added.

The Solomons government said Friday that its security pact with China has “no devious intention, nor is a secret plan but a broadened security arrangement” that allows the nation “to seek support from not only one country.”

Sogavare defended the agreement, claiming that the nature of the security pact with China was “no different” than the Australia-Solomons security pact signed in 2018.

“The agreement is for the countries concerned to provide security to the Solomon Islands in the event that security is required to protect our people and country from external or internal threats,” he said in a statement.

“Contrary to the misinformation promoted by anti-government commentators, the agreement does not invite [People’s Republic of China] or any other countries for that matter to establish its military base here,” Sogavare added.

Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have also expressed concern about the security deal, which provides a framework for Chinese forces to come to the island “to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects.”

The agreement, if fully implemented, would expand Beijing’s reach beyond the South China Sea and into the heart of the South Pacific region—just 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Australia’s east coast.

Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report.

Aldgra Fredly

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Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer based in Malaysia, covering Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.



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