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Australia accused of double standards — Analysis

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands called Australia’s protests over its security pact with China “hysterical”

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has accused Australia of being hypocritical in its opposition to the Pacific country’s recent security pact with China. He claimed that Canberra hadn’t consulted its partners when it announced a security deal last year with Britain and US, known as AUKUS. It opens up the possibility for Australia to obtain nuclear-powered submarines.

“I learned of the AUKUS treaty in the media. One would expect that as a member of the Pacific family, Solomon Islands and members of the Pacific should have been consulted to ensure this AUKUS treaty is transparent,” Sogavare told his country’s parliament on Friday.

He also added: “I realize that Australia is a sovereign country, which can enter into any treaty it wants to, transparently or not, which is exactly what they did with AUKUS.”

We didn’t get too excited about the potential implications of Australia signing up for AUKUS. We respected Australia’s decision.

The Solomon Islands, a tiny archipelago, is located approximately 2,000 km (1,242 mi) north of Australia.

China and Solomon Islands have signed a cooperation and security treaty last month. Frank Sade Bilaupaine, an adviser to the islands’ government, said the arrangement had been devised after the recent unrest in his country’s capital Honiara. The parliament was set on fire by a mob in November 2021.

This treaty has been criticized in Australia as well as the US, New Zealand and Australia. All three countries regularly exchange diplomatic jabs about Beijing.

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Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, stated last week that there would be a Chinese military base in the Islands. “red line.”Daniel Kritenbrink is a US high-ranking diplomat, who was responsible for East Asian, Pacific and International Affairs. He also said that Washington would not have. “significant concerns”Over a Chinese base in the area.

But, the Chinese Defense Ministry denies that they have plans to build an outpost there.

Asked about Sogavare’s recent statement on Friday, Morrison argued that there was “a remarkable similarity between those statements and those of the Chinese government.”

Xie Feng, China’s Vice Foreign Minister, said that the pact signed with Solomon Islands was a success. “not targeted at any third party.” He added that Australia had no right to meddle in Beijing’s relations with other states. “If this is not a violation of other countries’ sovereignty, an interference in other countries’ internal affairs and violation of international rules, [then] what is?”He stated.

Beijing argues that AUKUS is a threat to peace and stability within the region.

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