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
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Solomon Islands official says China deal crucial for domestic security

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Jun 2022 12:41
  • 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

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

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