Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Solomon Islands official says China deal crucial for domestic security

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Jun 2022 11:41
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Collin Beck has said the deal with China is crucial to protect the "domestic security" of the Islands.

  • x
  • Solomon Islands official says China deal crucial for domestic security
    Chinese PM Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands PM, Manasseh Sogavare, during a welcome ceremony in Beijing in October 2019 (AP)

A senior Solomon Islands official has defended his country's freedom to pick its friends, saying that the security arrangement agreed between the Solomon Islands and China was necessary to protect domestic security and aid in the battle against climate change.

Collin Beck, the permanent secretary of foreign affairs and a senior figure in the Solomons government, told The Guardian in his first interview since the deal between China and Solomon Islands was leaked that Australia should question whether it had been "fair" to the Solomon Islands in its intense scrutiny of the deal.

Australia is worried that the pact, whose details have not been made public, could be a step toward a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 km away, which was refuted by China, through its  Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin who said the 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.

The US, UK, and Australia had formed their AUKUS alliance amid China concerns. The alliance was based on enhancing Australia's nuclear capabilities through advanced technology and nuclear submarines in order to increase the alliance's strength in the South Pacific as China grows more influential in its region.

Read more: China begins training Solomon Islands police

Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare had termed late in March international criticism of the country's security discussions with China "insulting" and those who leaked the draft security deal "lunatics".

Beck stated that the deal was designed to address "domestic security threats," including the increasing population.

Related News

Solomon Islands' new prime minister vows friendly China relations

Solomon Islands PM asserts decline of US hegemony in Pacific

“When we look at the security vulnerability of the country, you know, we have youth population, about 18,000 youth looking for jobs every year.”

He stated that China would not put up a permanent military presence assuring the alliance had nothing to do with it.

Beck went on to say that focusing on the security agreement with China rather than the roots of the country's instability was analogous to focusing on which "fire station" the country would turn to for assistance in a disaster rather than the causes of the fire.

“What we should be talking about is actually preventing the fire,” he said. “Security and development are two sides of the same coin. Now we need to address our development agenda … Solomon Islands, first of all, is a small island developing state, its vulnerability to climate change is real.”

The Solomon Islands has lost five islands in recent years due to increasing sea levels. All of the islands were large vegetated reef islands.

“We are basically heading to 2.7 to three degrees [of global heating]. More than three degrees. What does this mean? It basically means the sinking of many of our islands, the impact on the economy, the impact on tourism, the impact on fisheries, etc. So when you look at – even for climate change alone – it needs more partnership, not less partnership.”

He also questioned why other treaties in the region were not being scrutinized.

Listing the Quad grouping between the US, Australia, India, and Japan, and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance of Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the US, and the UK, he stated that “in international relations, one thing that is really important is equality and fairness. So if it is good for others to do it, to guarantee the national security interest, then if we’re doing the same and we’ve been scrutinized the way we are being scrutinized, we really need to step back and say: are [they] being fair with Solomon Islands in Australia?"

“I just want to say that the security cooperation we have with China also respects Solomon Islands’ nuclear-free Pacific,” he concluded.

  • Manasseh Sogavare
  • Solomon Islands
  • China
  • Li Keqiang

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS