China tensions dominate Australia-Solomons diplomats’ meeting

National flags of Solomon Islands and China flutter at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on Oct 7, 2019. (File photo: Reuters)

Australia used its first face-to-face diplomatic talks with the Solomon Islands since the Pacific nation inked a controversial security agreement with China to outline its “deep concerns” over the new pact.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne told counterpart Jeremiah Manele in Brisbane on Friday that while Australia respected the Solomons’ sovereignty, she restated “our deep concerns about the security agreement with China, including the lack of transparency.”