Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has described the backlash to his country's security negotiations with China as "very insulting", in his first comments on a proposed security treaty.
Mr Sogavare defended his country's security treaty with China, and said the agreement was now finalised and ready for signing.
He also added the Pacific islands nation would not "pick sides".
Australia, New Zealand and the United States have expressed concern about the potential for a security pact between the Pacific island and China, which could lead to China establishing a military base there.
Mr Sogavare said he had exchanged text messages with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the matter and had written him a letter on Tuesday morning.He said while his country's traditional security partners were always important, Solomon Islands needed to diversify its partners to "achieve our security needs".
"I would like to make it abundantly clear that Solomon Islands' security agreement with Australia remains in place and intact," he said.
"It is clear that we need to diversify the country's relationship with other partners, and what is wrong with that?
"We find it very insulting to be branded as unfit to manage our sovereign affairs, or [to] have other motives in pursuing our national interests."
Australia and New Zealand alarmed
Australia and New Zealand have expressed concern about the potential for a Chinese military presence on the Solomon Islands.
Mr Morrison said he had spoken to his counterparts in New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea about the developments.
"The reports that we've seen are not a surprise to us and are a reminder of the constant pressure and threats that present in our region to our own national security," Mr Morrison said at the time of the leak.
"This is an issue of concern for the region but it has not come as a surprise. We have been long aware of these pressures."
On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her country found the deal gravely concerning.
"We see such acts as the potential militarisation of the region," she told Radio NZ.
"We see very little reason in terms of Pacific security for such a need and such a presence."
In his address on Tuesday, Mr Sogavare declared that there was no plan to allow China to build a naval or military base in his country, saying the suggestion was "misinformation."
"There is no intention to ask China to build a military base in Solomon Islands. We are insulted by such unfounded stories," he said
"We are not pressured in any way by our new friends."
'We watched Chinatown burned to ashes'
Mr Sogavare said the agreement might be used to help guard infrastructure built by the "friends" of Solomon Islands.
"Some countries and their publics may not take too kindly to a certain country protecting infrastructure built by another country" he told parliament.
"But such an attitude makes us uncomfortable. We watched Chinatown burned to ashes and attempted vandalism of the Pacific Games infrastructure ... from our perspective any infrastructure built must be protected."
Last November protesters in the capital Honiara demanded Mr Sogavare step down over his 2019 move to establish formal diplomatic ties with China, which essentially cut the Pacific nation's ties with Taiwan.
But the peaceful protest spiralled out of control, resulting in days of rioting and violence that saw Chinese-owned businesses burned to the ground.
While Mr Sogavare did not name any countries, the comments seemed to be a clear indication that Solomon Islands would be comfortable with Chinese police officers — or potentially even military forces — entering the country to guard key infrastructure projects built by China.
The draft document leaked last week specifically provided a framework for Chinese forces to come to Solomon Islands to "protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects" as well as "preserve social order".
Mr Sogavare warned Solomon Islands would be a "sitting duck" without additional assistance.
"If any country doesn't have the political appetite to do that we must have an alternative arrangement in place," he said.
"We will be simply foolish, a sitting duck, to swallow their position and do nothing to protect the infrastructure gifted to us by our friends."
ABC/wires
