Foreign
THE Solomon Islands have reportedly suspended all U.S. naval visits for the time being, in a possible sign of its ever-closer relations with Beijing, the Bloomberg news agency reported on Tuesday.
Washington was informed on Monday of a “moratorium on all naval visits until protocol procedures are updated,’’ Bloomberg quoted a spokesperson for the American embassy in Canberra, Australia, as saying on Tuesday.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since the Solomon Islands agreed on a controversial security deal with China a few months ago.
In spite of the call on Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare by New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. not to sign the agreement.
Fears of Beijing’s increasing influence on the government in Honiara and even a possible military presence in the country have been mounting for some time in the region.
The country is also home to the U.S. territory of Guam.
The security pact with the Solomon Islands was the first of its kind Beijing managed to sign in the South Pacific and represented an important diplomatic triumph for the Chinese.
Only a few days ago, there was an incident between the US and the Solomon Islands when a U.S. Coast Guard ship was denied routine access to a port on the archipelago for refuelling.
The Solomon Islands, with a population of about 700,000, lie 2,000 kilometres northeast of Australia. (dpa/NAN)
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Tags: Manasseh Sogavare Solomon Islands
