China says speech by Solomons PM "reflects sentiments of Pacific Island nations"

Record ID: 1671491

  • Title: China says speech by Solomons PM "reflects sentiments of Pacific Island nations"
  • Date: 5th May 2022
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 5, 2022) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON ZHAO LIJIAN ARRIVING FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ZHAO LIJIAN, SAYING: "(Solomon Islands) Prime Minister Sogavare said it well. His statement in this regard reflects the general sentiments of the Pacific Island nations. His words also confirmed that the accusations made by the U.S. and Australia against China are totally of double standards." JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ZHAO LIJIAN, SAYING: "A normal security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands is fundamentally different from certain countries drawing small circles, engaging in backroom deals, cobbling together military blocs, stimulating an arms race, exacerbating and proliferating risks, provoking a confrontation between camps, and causing regional tensions." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2022 11:05
  • Keywords: Australia China Pacific Island nations Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Solomon Islands United States bilateral relations defence foreign ministry military security pact
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001591605052022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday (May 5) that a furious statement by the Solomon Islands prime minister reflected "the general sentiments of the Pacific Island nations", following Western criticism of a security pact between the two countries.
    In a fiery speech to parliament on Tuesday (May 2), Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said "we are threatened with invasion" but he did not name any countries or give evidence for his claim.
    "(Sogavare's) words also confirmed that the accusations made by the U.S. and Australia against China are totally of double standards," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular news briefing.
    The security pact has become a major election issue for Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who faces opposition party criticism that it made Australia "less safe" and was a major failing of diplomacy by his government. Western allies are concerned it could provide a gateway for a Chinese military presence in the Pacific.
    Although details of the pact haven't been disclosed, Sogavare has ruled out a military base and said the deal covers policing to protect Chinese projects because an agreement with traditional partner Australia was "inadequate".
    (Production: Wang Shubing, Xiaoyu Yin)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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