‘Really concerning’: China finalising security deal with Solomon Islands to base warships in the Pacific

Draft agreement circulating on social media suggests China could establish military base less than 2,000km from Australia

Australian officials are alarmed at Solomon Islands' planned security deal with China with the defence minister, Peter Dutton, stating we would be concerned clearly about any military base being established" less than 2,000km off the coast.

Solomon Islands has signed a policing deal with China and will send a proposal for a broader security agreement covering the military to its cabinet for consideration.