Concern over Solomon Islands' security pact with China is mounting in the US Congress, with politicians on both sides expressing alarm over the deal.
Democrat Joe Courtney — a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and a co-chair of the so-called AUKUS caucus — compared the situation to China's activity in the South China Sea.
"I think we've seen this movie before, when China promised President Obama in 2015 that the island-building was not going to result in a militarised presence," he said.
"They've obviously completely broken that promise. And any sort of effort to try [to] sugar coat what China's intentions are here, I think, because of that experience, the West should be extremely sceptical."
Senior administration officials have warned that the United States would "respond accordingly" to any signs of China establishing a permanent military presence in Solomon Islands, while Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the prospect of a base as a "red line".
Republican senator Mitt Romney this week described the agreement as "alarming" while his GOP colleague, Marco Rubio, criticised the way the US had handled its relationships with the region.
"While this and previous administrations ignored the Pacific Islands, the Chinese Communist Party quietly worked to claim the allegiance of our partners in this critical area," Senator Rubio said in a statement.
"In the years to come, it will be more important than ever for the United States to work closely with Australia to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from establishing a military presence that threatens us and our allies.
"The Chinese Communist Party plans to establish hegemony first in the region and, eventually, the world. We must push back."
Mr Courtney said there was "legitimate criticism" of the decision to shut the US embassy in Honiara nearly 30 years ago, especially considering the "sacred" place that Solomon Islands had held since the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II.
About 1,600 Americans died during the battle for the island as the US sought to prevent Japan from disrupting supply routes to Australia.
"It's not a coincidence that Guadalcanal was one of the most significant military victories in World War II, because of its situation, because of its place in the Indo-Pacific region," he said.
"So, right now, I think both countries, Australia and the US, have to really redouble efforts to track this and change it to the greatest extent possible.
"Because I just think, inevitably, it will turn into what we saw with man-made islands, a military presence by China, and in terms of just their policy of sea control, that is alarming."
The US is now promising to fast-track the reopening of its embassy in Honiara, as well as delivering more medical support to the country.
