‘Partner of choice’ offer for Pacific countries Wang says no plans to build base

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Pacific nations Australia still wants to be a partner of choice for the region amid growing uncertainty.

On the second day of her trip to Fiji, Senator Wong warned of the potential consequences for other Pacific nations following the Solomon Islands signing a controversial security pact with China.

Senator Wong said the security of the Pacific should be determined by Pacific nations.

‘‘We want to be a partner of choice and demonstrate to your nation and other nations in the region that we are a partner who can be trusted and reliable, and historically we have been,’’ she told reporters in Fiji yesterday.

‘‘We have expressed our concerns publicly about the security agreement between the Solomon Islands and China and the reason why is because we have, as do other Pacific nations, we think there are consequences.’’

It comes as China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a tour of the Pacific.

However, Senator Wong said the visit from the Chinese minister did not influence Australia’s decision to visit Fiji in the wake of Labor’s election victory.

‘‘I was very keen to come to the Pacific as soon as I became foreign minister, this is my first bilateral visit,’’ she said. ‘‘I wanted to come back here because it is important to underline and emphasise the importance of our provided partnership and the importance of the Pacific family.’’

Earlier in the visit,

Senator

Wong stressed Australia was listening to the concerns of Pacific nations, particularly on climate change.

The foreign minister said there had been a lost decade on climate change action under the previous government and that she was determined to make up for it.

Senator Wong said the major decisions when it comes to security in the region needed to be decided by countries in the area.

‘‘It is for Pacific nations to make their own decisions about who they want to partner with and in which areas, and we respect that. We want to work with you on your priorities and as part of the Pacific family.’’ –

China’s Foreign Minister says China has ‘‘no intention at all’’ of building a military base in Solomon Islands.

Wang Yi, who has been in Honiara as part of a tour of Pacific Island states, said the security agreement Beijing sealed lastmonth with the Manasseh Sogavare government was ‘‘above board, with honesty and integrity’’.

A leaked draft of the security agreement contains a provision that would allow Chinese naval deployments to the Solomons.

At a news conference in Honiara following his meeting with the Solomons foreign minister Jeremiah Manele, Wang said the agreement has not been imposed on anyone, nor is it targeted at any third party.

Wang also said China respected existing international relationships with Pacific countries and would explore joining three-way partnerships with them.

Australia’s former government, toppled in May 21 elections, had said that any move to create a Chinese military base would amount to crossing a ‘‘red line’’ without specifying the consequences.

New Zealand and the United States have also expressed concern about the security arrangement between China and Honiara.

But Wang countered: ‘‘China’s co-operation with Pacific island countries does not target any country and should not be interfered or disrupted by any other country.’’

He also took a swipe at previous Australian governments which described the Pacific Islands as being in the country’s ‘‘backyard’’.

‘‘They are not the backyard of anyone. All the Pacific island countries are entitled to make their own choice instead of being just mere followers of others,’’ Wang said. ‘‘Any smears and attacks on the normal security co-operation between China and Solomon Islands are not above the board and any such disruption will not get anywhere.’’

Wang appeared to extend an olive branch to other Pacific powers, though, saying China respected existing international relationships with Pacific Island countries and would explore joining three-way partnerships with them.

The security pact helps the Solomon Islands government to safeguard stability and long term security, he said. –