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Scott Morrison says he followed security officials' advice in managing relations with the Solomon Islands after the South Pacific neighbor's leader alleged he'd been threatened with invasion.
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The announcement comes amid concerns that other Pacific island countries financially weakened by the pandemic and its impact on tourism could be lured by China into similar deals.
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National Security Council Indo-Pacific corrdinator Kurt Campbell will lead the U.S. delegation after the Solomons and China initialed a draft agreement of a security pact last month.
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Under the Solomon Islands' terms of a draft agreement, China could send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomon Islands "to assist in maintaining social order."
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The Solomon Islands said that despite a recent pact with China, it won't allow the major power to build a military base, and the two are only collaborating on security and naval refueling.
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One Asia-Pacific security observer says Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. would all be "very concerned" about the draft agreement.
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A ship ran aground more than a month ago, and a gash on its side is leaking oil. There's growing outrage that the companies responsible are not taking action to stop the environmental destruction.