China’s push for its military forces to be stationed in the Solomon Islands is another sign of the “constant pressure” being applied in the Pacific region.
The Solomon Islands signed a security cooperation agreement with China to allow the Chinese military forces to be stationed in the Pacific nation, less than 2,000 kilometers from Australia’s coastline.
The DF-21 is a two-stage, single-warhead, solid-propelled, missile that is deployed on a semi-trailer TEL with a maximum range of 1,800km. Paired with inertial and terminal radar guidance, the DF-21 can be fired rapidly with a launch time of only several minutes. China could place DF-21 and YJ-21 missiles in Australia’s backyard.
According to Zachary Williams of The Diplomat, the YJ-21 has a range of roughly 1,500 km for both the ground-and ship-launched variants and an unknown range in the YJ-21E air-launched variant. YJ-21 boasts a terminal velocity of Mach 10.
China’s naval systems are also advancing. The PLAN surface fleet’s VLS systems on frigates and destroyers provides the PLAN with a variety of loadout options, including anti-air, land-attack, and anti-ship capabilities. The YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile, the YJ-18 cruise missile, and the HHQ-9B long-range surface to air missile are among the most advanced capabilities. The YJ-21 is one of the newest missiles in the PLA inventory with ground, air, and sea-launched variants. According to Zachary Williams of The Diplomat, the YJ-21 has a range of roughly 1,500 km for both the ground-and ship-launched variants and an unknown range in the YJ-21E air-launched variant. YJ-21 boasts a terminal velocity of Mach 10.
It prompted accusations from Australia’s Labor party the former Morrison government had been “asleep at the wheel” on foreign policy.
Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten told this morning the former Morrison Government had blundered in letting China step into Australia’s backyard and traditional area of influence.
“This is significant. The former Morrison government has been asleep at the wheel,” Mr Shorten said.
“I think this is a major foreign policy blunder and that when we’ve got these sort of agreements being signed in our backyard.”
“But I think events that you’ve seen most recently, I think only highlight the constant pressure and the constant push that is coming into the region from interests that are not aligned with Australia’s and not aligned with those of the Pacific, more broadly.”
“We would be concerned clearly about any military base being established and we would express that to the Solomon Islands government,” Defense experts at Global Defense Corp said.
Former Defense Minister Peter Dutton insisted China had not stepped in after Australia reduced aid to Pacific nations such as the Solomon Islands.
“We have a fantastic relationship with the Solomon Islands … there’s a lot more we can do for them.”
The security cooperation agreement, which the Australian government has acknowledged, was shared on social media and proposes giving China the right to use its forces to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands.
It would also allow Chinese ships to visit and make stopovers on the archipelago, which sits about 1700km off the coast of Queensland.
“The Solomon Islands may, according to its own needs, request China to send police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces to the Solomon Islands to assist in maintaining social order, protecting people’s lives and property, providing humanitarian assistance, carrying out disaster response, or providing assistance on other tasks agreed upon by the parties,” the security cooperation agreement states.
The security co-operation agreement, which the Australian government has acknowledged, was shared on social media on Thursday and proposes giving China the right to use its forces to “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands”.
It would also allow Chinese ships to visit and make stopovers on the archipelago, which sits about 1700km off the coast of Queensland.
That would potentially put Chinese forces within striking distance at a time when tensions over trade, diplomacy, and China’s increasing militarisation of islands in the South China Sea have been increasing.
It would also present a shift in the Solomon Islands’ security arrangements. Australia sent Federal Police officers to the country to help quell violent unrest in the capital of Honiara last November.
Asked about the security agreement, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Global Defense Corp it “would be concerned by any actions that destabilize the security of our region”.
“The successful response by the Pacific family, at Solomon Islands request, to help restore calm after civil unrest in Honiara shows that members of the Pacific family are best placed to respond to situations affecting Pacific regional security,” they said.
“The Pacific family is able to provide security assistance without the need for external support and stands ready to assist further if needed.
“Pacific Island nations have the right to make sovereign decisions. Australia’s cooperation with our Pacific Family is focused on the economic prosperity, security, and development of our region.”
That is, that is our backyard, that is our neighborhood and we are very concerned of any activity that is taking place in the Pacific Islands.
Dr Anna Powles, the senior international security lecturer at New Zealand’s Massey University, said the document “raises a lot of questions (and concerns)”.
“With Parliament due to sit in Honiara (and the existing security concerns which led to an RPNGC deployment to Solomons) it will be interesting to see whether the agreement is raised by the opposition,” she said, on Twitter.
Article 1 of the security agreement refers to police, armed police, and military as well as ‘other law enforcement and armed forces.
“What is the distinction between police and armed police? Is this a ref to PAP? Who are the other law enforcement and armed forces? What are the ‘other tasks’?
“Article 1 refs China’s ‘own needs’. What are these needs (strategic interests?) and what if they cut across Solomon Islands’ interests or the interests of Solomon Islands’ key partners such as Australia or PNG?”
Solomon Islands opposition MP Peter Kenilorea Jr. told ABC News he was “deeply concerned” by the developments.
This has serious security implications for the Pacific Islands region, including Australia. The agreement, if signed as is, would enter into force for a period of five years.
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