03-29-2022, 03:01 PM
![[Image: Manasseh_Sogavare-Wikimedia_Commons.jpg]](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/Manasseh_Sogavare-Wikimedia_Commons.jpg)
HONIARA – The Solomon Islands’ prime minister today rebuked Australian fears that a draft security pact between his country and China that leaked online last week would “destabilise” the South Pacific.
In an impassioned speech, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said he found it “very insulting to be branded as unfit to manage our sovereign affairs or have other motives in pursuing our national interest”.
The proposals in the leaked draft agreement would allow Chinese security and naval deployments to the Pacific island nation, a development that sent shockwaves through Canberra last week.
Sogavare said the pact is yet to be signed but confirmed that his government and counterparts in Beijing had reached an agreement on the shape of the deal, although he offered no details.
While existing security arrangements with Australia would “remain intact”, Sogavare said that “to achieve our security needs, it is clear that we need to diversify the country’s relationship with other countries – and what is wrong with that?”
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