Solomon Islands to begin treaty talks with Australia, review China pact

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has signaled a significant shift in foreign policy, agreeing to initiate treaty negotiations with Australia and promising to "review" the nation's controversial 2022 security agreement with China. This move marks a clear pivot towards strengthening ties with Canberra.

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We are going to be reviewing [it] as we are reviewing other security agreements that we have with many other countries

During talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Wale stated his intention to "reset" the relationship between the two countries. The Solomon Islands has been a focal point of strategic competition between Australia and China in the Pacific since signing the broad security pact with Beijing. Wale, who was a vocal critic of the China deal when it was initially signed, has adopted a more measured tone recently.

Regarding the China pact, Wale told reporters that his government would "review" the agreement, though the specifics of this review remain unclear. He noted that the government is reviewing other security agreements as well. A significant challenge in this process, Wale admitted, was his own limited access to the document. He revealed that he had not been able to obtain a copy until just before his departure for Australia, more than two weeks after assuming office.

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I've had to remove certain people from key positions. I haven't been afforded a copy, even, of that agreement until a day before I left, so I haven't had a good look at it

Wale further explained that a non-disclosure clause within the agreement prevented him from sharing it immediately. He stated that while he had looked at it, he had not had a "good look," and that the cabinet would need to review it thoroughly. This admission underscores the potential difficulties and lack of transparency surrounding the existing security arrangement with China, as the Solomon Islands navigates its geopolitical landscape.

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There is a non-disclosure clause in it, so I couldn't show it to you right away.