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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

Australia’s foreign minister denounces China’s ‘secret’ security deal with Solomon Islands

Foreign affairs minister Marise Payne addresses the United States Studies Centre on Thursday. She said China’s security deal with Solomon Islands was ‘not transparent’.
Foreign affairs minister Marise Payne addressed the United States Studies Centre on Thursday. She said China’s security deal with Solomon Islands was ‘not transparent’. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Marise Payne has denounced the “secret” terms of China’s security deal with Solomon Islands, while insisting “no document signed and kept away from public view” would change Australia’s commitment to answering Pacific countries’ needs.

The foreign affairs minister said the agreement was “not transparent” – unlike Australia’s existing security treaty with Solomon Islands – and was also being hidden from other Pacific countries.

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