Solomon Islands PM rules out China military base and says Australia is ‘security partner of choice’

Exclusive: In his first interview since the security deal with Beijing, Manasseh Sogavare says he would only call on China if there was a gap' that Australia could not fill

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The prime minister of Solomon Islands has guaranteed there will never be a Chinese military base in his country, saying that any such deal with Beijing would undermine regional security, make Solomon Islands an enemy" and put our country and our people as targets for potential military strikes".

He has also said that Australia remains the security partner of choice" for Solomon Islands and he would only call on China to send security personnel to the country if there was a gap" that Australia could not meet.