Otago Daily Times

Aust rejects ‘invasion’ threat claim

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CANBERRA: Australia will respond calmly to the Solomon Islands after it signed a security pact with China, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said, dismissing a fiery speech by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who launched a tirade in parliament, suggesting Australia and its allies were deliberate­ly trying to undermine his government.

Sogavare also criticised the Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ratcheted up his criticism of civil society groups in Solomon Islands, suggesting that they were being manipulate­d and declaring they had ‘‘fallen prey to the Western world’’.

The furious denunciati­on of the West — which was delivered to the parliament of Solomon Islands on Tuesday — has consolidat­ed fears in Canberra about the trajectory of Sogavare’s government, one official telling the ABC the leader was becoming increasing­ly autocratic and hostile to Australia after signing a security pact with China.

Civil society groups in Solomon Islands have criticised the security pact and say they are concerned by the prospect of Chinese troops or police entering the islands to suppress future protests.

Sogavare told parliament those activists were ‘‘racists’’ and ‘‘bigots’’ deeply hostile to China who were being manipulate­d by ‘‘foreign masters’’.

Sogavare also seemed to latch on to a piece written by an Australian analyst which suggested that the federal government might need to launch an invasion of the Solomons if China moved to set up a military base in the country.

No government figure in Australia has publicly raised the prospect of invasion.

Sogavare seemed to suggest that option was being contemplat­ed in Australia, saying the Solomon Islands had received a ‘‘touching warning of military interventi­on . . . In other words, we are threatened with invasion’’.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said he did not believe the comments were directed at Australia, which had defence forces and police personnel in the Solomon Islands at Sogavare’s request.

Morrison told the ABC, ‘‘Of course we haven’t threatened [to invade]. We are their primary security partner.’’

The Solomon Islands were part of Australia’s neighbourh­ood in the Pacific. ‘‘What we need to be conscious of is we need to be calm and composed when we deal with these issues that arise,’’ he said.

The security pact has become a major election issue for Morrison, who faces opposition party criticism that it has made Australia ‘‘less safe’’ and was a major failing of diplomacy by his government. Western allies are concerned it could provide a gateway for a Chinese military presence in the Pacific. — Reuters/RNZ/ Agencies

❛ In other words, we are threatened with invasion

 ?? ?? Manasseh Sogavare
Manasseh Sogavare

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