Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is ready to satisfy his Solomon Islands counterpart Manasseh Sogavare in Canberra amid heightened tensions over Honiara’s relationship with Beijing.
Mr Albanese will maintain talks with the Solomons chief on Thursday.
Mr Sogavare’s go to follows a blistering public rebuff of the Australian authorities’s supply to fund his nation’s nationwide ballot after he introduced plans to push again the election till 2024, arguing his nation can’t afford to fund pay for the election in addition to the upcoming Pacific Video games.
He labelled the supply as international interference and “an assault on our parliamentary democracy”.
Opposition international affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham branded the delaying of the Solomons election and rejection of Australia’s assist as disappointing.
However he welcomed the engagement with Mr Sogavare off the again of the Solomon Islands prime minister’s go to to the US and dialogue with President Joe Biden.
“All dialogue is constructive,” Senator Birmingham advised ABC radio.
Tensions within the Indo-Pacific have soared after the Solomon Islands signed a safety pact with China earlier this yr, with issues it may result in Beijing establishing a army base.
In a press release launched on Wednesday, Mr Albanese mentioned Australia and the Solomon Islands had a “sturdy safety partnership, based mostly on decades-long policing and maritime co-operation”.
“As members of the Pacific household, we’re dedicated to working collectively to face our shared challenges,” he mentioned.
“I sit up for partaking with prime minister Sogavare on constructing a robust and affluent Pacific area, based mostly on ideas of transparency, respect and partnership.”
However issues have been raised about Honiara peddling nearer ties with Beijing, together with threats to ban international journalists essential of the Chinese language authorities.
The Australian Strategic Coverage Institute additionally warned Beijing is trying to affect public dialogue within the Solomons by means of propaganda and knowledge suppression.
Its new report accused Beijing of pushing a “fabricated narrative” about Australia, the USA and Taiwan instigating riots within the Solomon Islands in November 2021.
Opposition dwelling affairs spokeswoman Karen Andrews mentioned Australia had maintained shut ties with the Solomons.
“When the coalition was in authorities, we truly did a variety of work to assist
the Solomon Islands,” she mentioned.
“We made certain that when there was one other rebellion not so way back there was assist in place from the Australian Federal Police.”
However Ms Andrews mentioned Australia could not flip a blind eye to “what China’s actions have been and can proceed to be within the Pacific”.
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