INTELLIGENCE REPORT 01/023: China-Solomon Islands Policing Pact and Regional Security Implications
ICOD 13 JULY 23
KEY POINTS
The Australian government has expressed concern over a new policing cooperation plan between China and the Solomon Islands, urging both countries to immediately publish the details of the agreement.
The Solomon Islands recently opened its first embassy in Beijing, marking a significant milestone in the relations between the two countries.
The situation in the Pacific region is becoming increasingly complex due to the growing influence of China and the strategic responses from countries like Australia and the US.
DETAILS
The Policing Plan. China has established a police presence in the Solomon Islands, and the two countries recently formalized this arrangement through the signing of an "implementation plan" on policing, which will run until the end of 2025. The details of this plan have not been made public, causing concern in Australia and other regional players.
Strategic Implications. The move is seen as a strategic win for China in the Pacific region, where it is competing with the US for influence. The Solomon Islands, located northeast of Australia, has been a significant success for China's campaign to expand its presence in the South Pacific.
Recent Developments: The Solomon Islands recently opened its first embassy in Beijing, marking a significant milestone in the relations between the two countries. There are deep concerns about how crowded and contested the security sector has become in the Solomon Islands. There is a fear that geopolitical competition has spilled over into several security sectors in the region, which could undermine peace and security efforts.
Australia is pushing to keep a security presence in the Solomon Islands beyond the 2023 deadline agreed by both countries last year. The US has responded to China's growing influence in the region by announcing plans to reopen an embassy in the Solomon Islands.
RESTRICTED
ANALYST ASSESSMENT
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