New Zealand to extend troop deployment on Solomon Islands
The troops are part of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force, which consists of troops from New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.
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Australian soldiers and Australian Federal Police patrolling the streets in Honiara, Solomon Islands on November 28, 2021. (AP)
On Wednesday, New Zealand said it would extend the New Zealand Defense Force's deployment to the Solomon Islands until May 2023, while concerns on the Islands arise amid Australia's growing unsolicited influence in its affairs. Canberra, along with its allies in Washington and Wellignton, has objected to the latest Chinese-Solomon cooperation on security.
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After riots broke out in Honiara in 2021, New Zealand and Australia deployed troops as the government was threatened to be toppled. The troops are part of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force, which consists of troops from New Zealand, Fiji, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The foreign minister of New Zealand, Nanaia Mahuta, said in a statement, "Our partnership promotes peace not only through security cooperation, but also by addressing economic challenges, climate change and a range of other development needs we face as a region."
Mahuta, on Wednesday, met with her Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele. She stressed concerns regarding the recent security pact inked with China in April. Manele assured Mahuta that the pact would not lead to a Chinese military base in the area.
"Minister Mahuta highlighted the need to understand and discuss the regional implications of the agreement amongst (Pacific Island) Forum Members," the statement said.
After China announced its planning to sign security deals with Kiribati, and possibly Vanuatu on Saturday, its foreign minister, Wang Yi announced Tuesday Beijing's plans to visit the Islands this week.
China and the Solomon Islands signed in April a framework agreement on security cooperation to boost long-term tranquility and social stability in the Solomon Islands.
Citing a supposed leaked draft deal from March, The Financial Times noted that the agreement could allow China to assign police and military forces to the islands, an accusation that China refuted.
Statements about an alleged desire by China to build a military base on the Solomon Islands under the newly signed security agreement are nothing but disinformation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
According to a Western official, there are concerns that the potential deal with Kiribati would resemble the agreement with the islands. Meanwhile, the foreign affairs secretary of Kiribati denied that his government was discussing a security agreement "with any partner."
