US to ‘Respond Accordingly’ If Solomon Islands–China Pact Permits Military Base

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect honor guards at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States has warned the leadership of the Solomon Islands that Washington will “respond accordingly” if China is allowed to install a military base on the Pacific nation under the terms of the Solomon Islands–China security pact.

A high-level U.S. delegation has met with Solomon Islands leaders in Honiara and raised concerns about the purpose and transparency of the agreement, the White House stated on April 22.

According to its statement, Solomon Islands’ officials said the security deal was solely for domestic applications, but the U.S. delegation said it posed “potential regional security implications” for Washington and its allies.

“If steps are taken to establish a de facto permanent military presence, power-projection capabilities, or a military installation, the delegation noted that the United States would then have significant concerns and respond accordingly,” it stated.

The White House didn’t specify how the United States would respond.

U.S. National Security Council's Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell (L) leaves after a meeting with Solomon Islands opposition leader Mathew Wale (R) in Honiara on April 22, 2022. (Mavis Podokolo/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. delegation was led by Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council’s Indo-Pacific coordinator, and Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

The White House stated that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has reassured that no military base, long-term presence, or power projection capability would be permitted under the agreement with China.

“The United States emphasized that it will follow developments closely in consultation with regional partners,” the White House said.

During the meeting, the Solomon Islands agreed with Washington’s proposal to open “a high-level strategic dialogue” to address mutual concerns and drive practical progress, the White House stated.

It noted that Washington will also expedite the opening of a U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands, dispatch the Mercy hospital ship to address public health, deliver additional vaccines, and advance initiatives on “people-to-people ties.”

“Both sides agreed to discuss in greater detail security issues of mutual concern, economic and social development, public health, and finance and debt,” the White House said.

The Solomon Islands–China security deal, which was signed last week, triggered alarms in the United States and among its allies that Beijing may use the accord to establish a military presence in the region and destabilize the Indo-Pacific.

According to a leaked draft of the agreement, Beijing would be able to dispatch police, troops, weapons, and even naval ships—with the consent of the Solomons—to “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands.”

The location of the Solomon Islands is critical; it was the scene of extensive fighting during World War II because of its influence over sea lanes. The security deal would expand Beijing’s reach beyond the South China Sea to within 1,700 kilometers (1,060 miles) of Australia’s northern city of Cairns.

On April 18, the United States convened a meeting with officials of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, during which they expressed concerns about the Solomons–China deal. The White House expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and “unspecified nature” of the agreement.

Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report.