The path of rapprochement between the Solomon Islands and China, which has taken place since 2019, is being watched with great concern in the US, as Washington fears an expansion of China’s sphere of influence. Now the government of the island nation in the South Pacific has apparently temporarily suspended all US Navy visits.
The government in Washington was informed on Monday by authorities in the Solomon Islands of a “moratorium on all naval visits until protocol procedures are updated,” Bloomberg news agency quoted a spokesperson for the US embassy in Canberra, Australia, as saying on Tuesday. Just days ago, there was an incident between the United States and the Solomon Islands when a US Coast Guard vessel was denied a routine visit to a port in the archipelago to refuel. The Solomon Islands with about 700,000 inhabitants are located 2000 kilometers northeast of Australia.
Relations between the two countries have been tense since the Solomon Islands signed a controversial security deal with China a few months ago. New Zealand, Australia and the US had asked Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare not to sign the agreement.
Security pact important victory for Beijing
There is growing fear of China’s increasing influence and a possible military presence in the region that includes the US territory of Guam. It was the first security pact in the South Pacific and a major victory for Beijing.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
