The Irony in Solomon Islands As China Plans a Military Base

Please tell African countries to be careful. The tensions evolving in the world now are huge. As Ukraine battles Russia for its future, China is striking a deal with Solomon Islands to put a military base there: ‘The United States warned Friday it would “respond accordingly” if China installs a military base on the strategic Solomon Islands after the tiny Pacific state signed a security pact with Beijing.’

The implication is massive. Yes, it seems like China wants to have its own version of “NATO” and is recruiting countries.  The positions of Australia, New Zealand and the United States on Solomon Islands as China comes could be likened to how Russia feels about Ukraine as NATO draws closer: “Some were concerned …: a Chinese military base being built in the Solomon Islands, a first for China in the Pacific. Australia and the US were so worried that they sent delegations to the Pacific island, hoping to stop the agreement.”

The big question is this: what if Solomon Islands decides to make a sovereign decision and go ahead with China, what happens?  FT has called it an “irony” when you see what is happening in Ukraine with Russia. Humans are just the same – hope someone can invent a drug to make us enjoy living peacefully.

 A senior-level U.S. delegation met the Solomon Islands’ leader on Friday and warned that Washington would have “significant concerns and respond accordingly” to any steps to establish a permanent Chinese military presence in the Pacific island nation.

A White House statement said Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare reiterated to the visiting delegation led by White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell that there would be no military base, no long-term presence, and no power projection capability under a security deal signed with China.

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