Solomon Islands

A statement on Monday said, "Mr Wang and his almost 20 member delegation will spend a day in Honiara, attending various high-level meetings, courtesy calls on the Prime Minister and acting Governor-General, and hosting a press conference alongside his counterpart, Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele."

It said "the highlight of the visit is the signing of several key bilateral agreements with the national government."

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the visit by Mr Wang will be a milestone in the Solomon Islands-China relationship.

This follows concerns the police would strike over a delay in the payment of their Covid-19 allowances.

Deputy Commissioner Ian Vaevaso said these media reports are wrong.

He said he thinks very few unruly officers are tarnishing the good image of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force by speaking to the media.

Mr Vaevaso said making unnecessary comments to the media is a serious breach for an officer.

In a meeting on Friday, US National Security Council Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell conveyed Washington DC's concerns with the treaty.

Campbell told Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare the United States respected the right of nations to make sovereign decisions but warned if steps are taken by China to establish a de facto permanent military presence in the country the United States would have significant concerns and respond accordingly.

The unexploded ordnance will be got rid of at a number of places;

• Munda, Noro and surrounding communities on New Georgia Island.
• Ringgi, Teme, Jack Harbour and surrounding communities on Kolombangara Island,
• Vonunu and the surrounding communities on Vella la Vella Island and Ranogga Island.

The officer in charge, Inspector Clifford Tunuki, said the work is in response to multiple reports from local communities about unexploded bombs that have been uncovered.

In parliament on Wednesday, Manasseh Sogavare confirmed the controversial security agreement with China had been signed despite strong opposition to the deal from the other side of the house.

The pact, a draft of which was first leaked online last month, raised domestic and regional anxieties about Beijing's increasing influence in the South Pacific.

It's feared it could open the door to China's military presence in Honiara - a claim rejected both by China and Solomon Islands.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced the agreement in Beijing, saying it would involve China cooperating with Honiara on maintaining social order, protecting people's safety, aid, combating natural disasters and helping safeguard national security.

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele confirmed the signing of the pact to the ABC in a text message.

He said Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare would make a formal announcement in the coming days.

A draft security alliance between China and the Solomon Islands has prompted fear of a possible Chinese military base in the islands.

But Clark says the Pacific must stay together and any outside deals with security will always be alarming.

"There's been a history in the South Pacific that we help each other out and so I think anyone else coming in, signing a defence and security pact, this is going to raise many, many, many eyebrows. I personally think it's quite unfortunate because the Pacific family likes to work together."

Late Wednesday, Sogavare's office issued a statement revealing he'd hosted a "positive" meeting with a special envoy sent by the Australian government.

Sogavare's office said the men discussed "Australia's core security concerns" about the security agreement, which Australia fears could lay the legal groundwork for a Chinese military presence in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands head coach Felipe Vega-Arango sent out the same starting eleven that overcame Tahiti in their previous fixture. Meanwhile, Marcos Gusmao made just one change from Papua New Guinea’s clutch victory over Fiji, Raymond Gunemba replacing Stahl Gubag in attack.

The unverified document lays down a framework which could permit Beijing to deploy forces to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands.

Wale said that any sensible person would recognize that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's actions on this matter are threatening national unity.

"How is such a decision in the best interest of the nation?" the opposition leader questioned.

He said that these actions show a disregard for the public's views and are causing the public to lose trust in the government.