China tells Australia to refrain from remarks over its security deal with pacific Islands nation

ANKARA (AA) – China on Thursday strongly reacted to the US and Australian opposition to its recent security deal with the Solomon Islands and said these countries have no right to tell Beijing what to do.

Speaking at a launching ceremony of the China-Pacific Island Countries Cooperation Center on Climate Change through video link, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng said such a statement is a violation of other countries' sovereignty.

"What right do these countries (Australia and US) have to tell China what to do? What right does Australia have to draw a 'redline' between the Solomon Islands, which is 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) away from it, and China, which is 5,000 kilometers (3106 miles) away? If this is not a violation of other countries' sovereignty, interference in other countries' internal affairs and violation of international rules, what is?" state-run Global Times quoted Xie as saying.

China confirmed last week it has signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, a country in Oceania comprising six major islands and over 900 smaller islands to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.

Under the deal, China will help the Solomon Islands enhance its security and provide the latest equipment to the police force to enable it to deal with any future instability.

The move has triggered a chain reaction from Australia, New Zealand, the US and Japan.

On Tuesday Australian Prime Minister even said that China building any military base in the Solomon Islands will be a redline for his country.

"The Pacific Ocean is the common home of countries in the region, rather than anyone's backyard. It should be a big stage for international cooperation, rather than an arena for geopolitical games," Xie said, adding Australia exposed its mentality of colonialism.

Earlier, Manasseh Sogavare, prime minister of the South Pacific nation, also defended his government’s decision and called on its neighbors to respect the sovereignty of the island nation.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid