China Security Pact Review
Solomon Islands' New Prime Minister Matthew Wale Plans Review of China Security Treaty
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Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale says his country will review its secretive 2022 security pact with China, according to Associated Press. Wale made the announcement in Canberra on June 3, 2026, during his first overseas trip as leader — a visit to Australia that signals a sharp turn in the Pacific island nation's foreign policy.
Wale won the premiership by a 26-22 parliamentary vote on May 15, 2026, after his predecessor Jeremiah Manele was ousted in a no-confidence motion, according to Xinhua. The new PM has been a long-time critic of the China pact, which was signed in 2022 under former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and never made public.
A Secret Treaty That Alarmed Australia and the US
The 2022 security pact was signed without public disclosure. For four years, its full text was hidden from the parliamentary opposition — including from Wale himself. The treaty reportedly allows China to send "police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces" to the Solomon Islands to maintain "social order," according to Air University research.
The deal set off alarm bells in Washington and Canberra. The Solomon Islands sits just 1,600 km from Australia's coast. Both the US and Australia feared China could use the pact to build a "dual-use" naval base in the South Pacific. Wale said he only got a copy of the document after "removing certain people from key positions," according to Reuters.
Wale Visits Canberra to Begin a Diplomatic Reset
At a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Wale said: "We are going to be reviewing it, as we are reviewing other security agreements we have with many other countries." Albanese called it a chance to "elevate our bilateral relationship" and build ties on "mutual trust," according to Mirage News.
The two leaders announced the start of negotiations for a new comprehensive treaty between Australia and the Solomon Islands. The deal would cover security, economic resilience, and climate change. It is expected to include a $190 million aid package for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, according to The Guardian.
China's Deep Financial Footprint Won't Disappear Overnight
Despite the diplomatic pivot, China's influence in the Solomon Islands is firmly embedded. Beijing signed a $66 million loan for 161 Huawei mobile towers in 2022. It also gave $20 million in budget support in 2024 and funded a national stadium for the 2023 Pacific Games. Analysts at the Lowy Institute warn that Chinese infrastructure and influence are "going nowhere."
Wale's government is also dealing with a severe economic crisis. Tropical Cyclone Maila, a Category 4-5 storm, hit the country in April 2026, affecting 150,000 people across 161 communities. The Solomon Islands has a GDP per capita of just $2,005 — the lowest in the Pacific — leaving it heavily dependent on foreign aid for disaster recovery, according to ReliefWeb.
A 'Friends to All' Policy, Not a Cold War Switch
Wale and his ministers are careful not to frame the shift as a rejection of China. His government calls it a "reset" — one built on transparency and national interest. He has appointed former Prime Minister Rick Hou as Foreign Minister to manage the transition steadily, according to The Guardian.
Australian analysts caution against reading this as a clean "win" for the West. Experts like Anouk Ride at ANU say Wale is focused on what is best for the Solomon Islands, not on choosing sides in a geopolitical rivalry. China, for its part, dismissed Western concerns about the 2022 pact as a "cold war mentality," according to the Chinese Embassy in Honiara.
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