Solomon Islands’ security pact with China raises the question – is Australia the partner for the Pacific it thinks it is?

Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare met Australia’s minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja last week. Australia’s efforts to persuade Solomon Islands not to sign the security deal with China failed.
Photograph: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Reuters

The Australian government woke up Wednesday morning to a Solomon Islands-shaped headache.

Tuesday night, news broke that the Pacific nation, less than 2,000km from Australia’s east coast, had signed a security deal with China.