Foreign Ministry hails Solomons PM’s speech

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on May 5 welcomed remarks made in a speech by Manasseh Sogavare, prime minister of the Solomon Islands, saying they exposed the complete double standards of the United States and Australia in terms of their accusations against China.

Speaking to the Solomon Islands’

Parliament on April 28, Sogavare hit out at the Australian government for failing to consult with the Pacific nation before joining AUKUS, a trilateral security bloc of the US, the United Kingdom and Australia.

“The AUKUS treaty will see nuclear submarines in Pacific waters,” he said, adding that he learned of the AUKUS treaty from the media.

“One would expect that as a member of the Pacific family, the Solomon Islands and members of the Pacific should have been consulted to ensure this AUKUS treaty is transparent,” he said.