CANBERRA — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale announced on May 22, 2024, that his government will review the 2022 security treaty with China. He said the review is part of a broader assessment of the country’s security agreements with multiple nations.
Wale became prime minister following a parliamentary vote on May 15. Before assuming office, he had called for greater transparency around the 2022 security pact, which was signed under then-Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. “I haven’t had a good look at it. I’ve had a look at it. There is a nondisclosure clause in it, so I couldn’t show it to you right away. But we are going to be reviewing the treaty, as we are reviewing other security agreements that we have with many other countries,” he said.
Wale added that he received a copy of the treaty only a few days before May 22, after having “removed certain people from key positions.” The Solomon Islands does not have a military, leaving its police force with an expanded security role. As part of the existing bilateral arrangement, China has provided police instructors to the country.
Wale’s first overseas trip as prime minister was to Australia, where he met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The two leaders agreed to negotiate a comprehensive strategic treaty covering security and economic cooperation. “We acknowledge that there’s been some problems in the past few years,” Wale said, adding that both governments had decided to “reset” their bilateral relationship.
Albanese said Australia aims to be the region’s preferred security partner. “We have said very clearly we want Australia to be the security partner of choice in our region and we want the Pacific family to look after our security in this region.” Wale endorsed this regional approach, stating it was “the direction we want to take.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded by saying China was “ready to work with the new government of Solomon Islands to expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields so as to better benefit the two peoples.” The Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019 under Sogavare.