What A Chinese Navy Base In The Solomons Means For The World
Why everyone is low key freaking out
The government of the Solomon Islands recently signed a new security agreement with China that completely pivots the foreign policy of the small island nation away from Australia. Previously, Australia was the nation’s lead security partner and has worked closely with the islands in the past even including sending troops, police and aid during times of unrest. Now, the government has made a series of public gestures, accumulating in the new security agreement, signalling that they want closer ties with China rather than Australia and the West.
The move has various governments in total panic. Australia has called any move towards creating a Chinese naval base in the Solomons as a “red line.” Not to be outdone, the United States chimed in and said it would not rule out military action against any Chinese activity in the Solomon Islands. Even defense-minded Japan is sending diplomats to the islands to avert what everyone clearly sees is a crisis.
This is all despite the fact that most people cannot accurately point to the Solomon Islands on a map, and the only defining feature of the nation is Guadalcanal, a battle that took place 80 years ago.
