Solomon Islands

Australia announces $118 mn deal to enhance policing in Solomon Islands

Australia announced on Friday it will pay for more police in Solomon Islands and create a police training center in the South Pacific island nation's capital Honiara, where Chinese law enforcement instructors are already based under a bilateral security pact with Beijing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would spend 190 million Australian dollars (USD 118 million) over four years on funding and training new Royal Solomon Islands Police Force recruits with a package that would reduce any need for outside support. My government is proud to make a significant investment in the police force of the Solomon Islands to ensure that they can continue to take primary responsibility for security in the Solomons, Albanese told reporters in Australia's capital Canberra. Albanese and his Solomons counterpart Jeremiah Manele said in a joint statement on Friday the package would build an enduring security capability in the Solomons, thereby reducing its reliance on external partners .

Solomon Islands and China strengthen ties, move worries US, Pacific allies

The Solomon Islands' new prime minister is in Beijing for a visit as China and the strategic Pacific archipelago strengthen their ties. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele met his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang on Thursday and was holding more meetings Friday before his departure Monday. China's influence increased significantly during the term of Manele's predecessor, with the country switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China and striking a secret security pact that has raised fears of China's security forces gaining a foothold in the region long dominated by the US, Australia and New Zealand. Those moves came at a time of major tensions between Washington and Beijing, and the Solomons' tighter ties with China are seen as undermining the influence of the US and other traditional allies in the Western Pacific. During their meeting, Li pushed for closer economic cooperation and a strategic partnership between China, the Solomons and other Pacific island nations, according to ..

China funded $130,000 to Solomon Islands newspaper for favourable coverage

In 2022, the Solomons signed a security pact with China sparking alarm for the US and allies like Australia, who fear that it could result in China's military presence in the region,

China signs pact with Solomon Islands to enhance security cooperation

The Solomon Islands has signed an agreement to boost cooperation with China on law enforcement and security matters, in a move likely to raise concerns among the South Pacific island's traditional partners including Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The agreement, details of which were not immediately released, was contained in a joint statement made public Tuesday following a meeting Monday in Beijing between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. As part of efforts to build a comprehensive strategic partnership" the sides agreed to: Enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security matters. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and help to Solomon Islands as needed in strengthening Solomon Islands' police law enforcement capacity. Located 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, Solomon Islands has been China's biggest success in a campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific. Sogavare's government ..

Earthquake of 5.6 magnitude on Richter scale hit Solomon Islands: USGS

An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit the Solomon Islands on Sunday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said

Tsunami warning as magnitude 7 earthquake strikes Solomon Islands

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a tsunami warning. There were no immediate reports of widespread damage or injuries. The quake's epicentre was in the ocean about 56 kilometres (35 miles) southwest of the capital, Honiara, at a depth of 13 kilometres (8 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey. Hazardous waves are possible for islands in the region, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, but it advised there was no wider tsunami threat expected. The earthquake may produce waves of up to 1 metre (3 feet) above tide levels for the Solomon Islands, the centre said, and smaller waves for the coasts of Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. The Solomon Islands sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a arc along the Pacific Ocean rim where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

Solomon Islands restricts ships' arrival amid concerns over security pact

The Solomon Islands on Wednesday asked countries to not send naval vessels to the South Pacific nation until approval processes are overhauled, amid concerns over a new security pact between the Solomons and China. The government made the request after the US Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry and the British navy patrol boat HMS Spey cancelled planned port calls last week due to bureaucratic delays. The United States and Britain are among countries concerned that a new security pact with Beijing could lead to a Chinese naval base being constructed less than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) off Australia's northeast coast. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the Oliver Henry crew had failed to provide required information in time for his office to approve the visit. The Oliver Henry refuelled at Papua New Guinea instead. The HMS Spey withdrew its application to visit, Sogavare said. The delay in these approvals demonstrate the need for the government to review and refine its approval

EAM Jaishankar greets people of Solomon Islands on their national day

'Greetings to FM Jeremiah Manele and the Government and the people of Solomon Islands on their National Day,' Jaishankar tweeted

Jaishankar meets his Tanzania, Solomon counterparts; discuss bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Tanzania and the Solomon Islands here and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors. Jaishankar arrived here on Wednesday on a four-day visit to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He will be representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit. "Met FM Jeremiah Manele of the Solomon Islands at @CHOGM2022. Discussed cooperation in energy, IT, and agriculture," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting on Friday. He also had a "warm meeting" with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Liberata Mulamula. "Discussed our development partnership that has transformed so many lives. Its results in water, agriculture & education are so visible. Also noted our growing defence & security relationship," he tweeted. Jaishankar also met Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on the sidelines of the summit. "Always good to meet PM Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius. ...

China signs deal with Samoa as Australia vows Pacific Islands plan

China is building on a security pact it recently signed with Solomon Islands, which has alarmed the United States and its allies such as Australia

New Zealand extends troop deployments to Solomon Islands till May 2023

New Zealand deployed troops to the Solomon Islands at the request of the nation's government in late 2021 after rioting broke out in the capital city of Honiara

Australian PM Morrison defends management's ties to Solomon Islands

Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Parliament on Wednesday that opponents of his new security pact with China had threatened his country and insulted it

US warns Solomon Islands PM Sogavare over security pact with China

China and Solomon Islands have signed a framework agreement on security cooperation that neighbours of the South Pacific archipelago fear could open the door to a Chinese naval base in the country

US raises concern over security framework between Solomon Islands, China

United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand expressed concerns about a proposed security framework between the Solomon Islands and China and its "serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

China, Solomons Islands ink draft of controversial security pact

China and the Solomon Islands have signed a draft version of a security pact that could see Chinese police and other forces take up duties in the Pacific Island nation

Australia, New Zealand worried by China deal with Solomon Islands

The Australian and New Zealand prime ministers on Monday voiced concerns about the potential for a Chinese military presence on the Solomon Islands.

China could boost military in Solomons, shows leaked documents

A leaked document indicates that China could boost its military presence in the Solomon Islands including with ship visits in a development that is raising alarm in nearby Australia and beyond. The Solomon Islands revealed on Thursday it had signed a policing cooperation agreement with China. But more concerning to Australia was the draft text of a broader security arrangement that was leaked online. Under the terms of the draft agreement, China could send police, military personnel, and other armed forces to the Solomons to assist in maintaining social order and for a variety of other reasons. It could also send ships to the islands for stopovers and to replenish supplies. The draft agreement stipulates that China would need to sign off on any information that's released about joint security arrangements, including at media briefings. Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in international security at New Zealand's Massey University, said Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. would all b

US aims to counter Chinese influence by opening embassy in Solomon Islands

The US says it will open an embassy in the Solomon Islands, laying out in unusually blunt terms a plan to increase its influence in the South Pacific nation before China becomes strongly embedded.

Govt to offer Pacific island nations $150 mn credit line for climate issues

Modi underlined the reality of climate change and called for increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix to mitigate many adverse effects of climate change

Magnitude 8 quake hits Solomon Islands, tsunami possible

US Geological Survey says the quake hit near Arawa in Papua New Guinea at a depth of 167 kilometers