There is "no military element" in the security cooperation between China and Soloman Islands, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.
After a regional backlash, the Solomon Islands on Friday said it would not allow a Chinese military base in the Pacific islands nation despite its plans to sign a security pact with Beijing.
(Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Writing by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by David Goodman)