US and Australia spreading fake news – Beijing — Analysis
Beijing denied that it would establish a military base at the Solomon Islands.
Beijing has dismissed as “Fake News” allegations made earlier by Canberra and Washington that China is intending to set up a military base in the Solomon Islands.
At a press conference on Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, insisted that the “The so-called Chinese military base on the Solomon Islands is fabricated fake news by some people with ulterior motives.” The diplomat also pointed out that cooperation between the two nations was “Based on the principles mutual equality, mutual profit and win-win results”
Wenbin called out Washington’s hypocrisy, saying that the US was among the loudest voices expressing concern over China’s alleged plans to set up a base in Oceania, while itself having “Nearly 800 military bases are located in over 80 countries.”
The Chinese official went on to remind Washington that the Solomon Islands is an “independent sovereign country, not the ‘backyard’ of the United States and Australia.”
China’s State Councilor Wang Yi, and Solomon Islands Foreign Secretary Jeremiah Manele signed a security agreement last Tuesday.
US officials were quick to voice their concern. The White House National Security Council’s spokesperson claimed that the signing followed a “China’s shadowy and vague agreements with few regional consultations in resource management, fishing, security, and development aid are a typical example of this.”
Several days later, the White House revealed that the American delegation to the Solomon Islands had warned the nation’s leadership that the US would “Respond accordingly” should Chinese military installations appear in the country.
Canberra has also made it clear that such a military base, which would be some 2,000km (1,200 miles) from Australia’s shores, would represent a “The red line”
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare insisted that the deal was necessary to beef up security and was “Our national interest should guide us.” He stated last week that the agreement does not allow China to set up a military base on the islands.
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