Marise Payne meets with Solomon Islands for first time since Pacific nation signed security pact with China - ABC News

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has met with her Solomon Islands counterpart for the first time since the Pacific nation signed a controversial security pact with China.

Key points:

Senator Payne reiterated assurances from Solomon Islands that the country would not be used for a foreign military base after the meeting with Jeremiah Manele in Brisbane overnight.

Both Senator Payne and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have been criticised for having little contact with Solomon Islands officials since it signed the security deal with Beijing last month.

Beijing has said the deal would involve China cooperating with Honiara on maintaining social order, combating natural disasters and safeguarding national security.

Friday night's exchange was the first high-level ministerial meeting between Canberra and Honiara since news of the security pact was leaked in March.

Australia, along with the US and New Zealand, have voiced concerns over the deal, amid fears the pact could open the door to a Chinese naval base in the South Pacific — speculation Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has dismissed.

"Australia has been consistent and clear in stating our respect for Solomon Islands' sovereign decision-making," Senator Payne said in a statement.

"However, we have reiterated our deep concerns about the security agreement with China, including the lack of transparency," she said.

"I again welcomed Prime Minister Sogavare's assurance that Solomon Islands will not be used for a foreign military base."

Trade Minister Dan Tehan told Weekend Breakfast the meeting had been "very productive", saying the ministers agreed Australia remained Solomon Islands' security partner of choice.

"I think what we need to do is make sure we just focus on what is very important for the Solomon Islands — ultimately their sovereignty — but that Australia remains the security partner of choice," he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison echoed those comments, saying he was pleased Senator Payne had been able to take up the "sensible" opportunity to meet with her counterpart in Brisbane. 

"That meeting proved to be a very positive meeting, one that reinforced again Australia's role as the primary security partner, and also reassured once again that the Solomon Islands are not considering, and would not support, the establishment of a naval presence for the Chinese government in the Solomon Islands," Mr Morrison said. 

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said "it's about time" the meeting took place, but he would have expected that Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong had a seat at the table.

"I would have thought it would have been appropriate," he said.

"I don't know the circumstances of whether Marise Payne invited the Shadow Foreign Minister. 

Given we're in caretaker mode, that would have been the appropriate course of action. I'm not aware of whether that happened or not."

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The Solomon Islands PM lashes out at Australia in the wake of the China security deal.

Posted 3h ago3 hours agoSat 7 May 2022 at 3:34am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoSat 7 May 2022 at 6:05am

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2022-05-07 03:34:17Z
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