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.”
“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.
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.
“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.
