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U.S. will open embassy in Solomon Islands; administration says prime minister vowed no Chinese military base
Summary
Sen. Mitt Romney warned that a reported security pact between the Solomon Islands and China is "alarming" and asked whether it would permit a Chinese military presence. The secretary said a U.S. delegation met the Solomons' prime minister, the U.S. plans to open an embassy, and the prime minister vowed there would be "no Chinese military base, no long term presence, no power projection capability."
Sen. Mitt Romney told the secretary he was "concerned" about reports that the Solomon Islands had entered a military agreement with China and asked whether the pact would allow a Chinese military presence that could not be reversed.
"I was concerned with the report about the Solomon Islands entering into a military agreement with China. That is alarming," Romney said, asking whether a military presence could result and whether the United States could "recover."
The secretary said the administration shares the concern and that a very high-level U.S. delegation had visited the Solomons in recent days, led by Kurt Campbell and Assistant Secretary Dan Kritenbrink. He said the United States is moving forward on plans to open an embassy there to maintain a day-to-day presence.
"The delegation met with the prime minister. He vowed, publicly as well as privately that, there would be no Chinese military base, no long term presence, no power projection capability," the secretary said, and added that the U.S. would "be watching that very, very closely in the weeks, and months ahead."
