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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Kate Lyons

US won’t rule out military action if China establishes base in Solomon Islands

The US diplomatic team led by the National Security Council's Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell and the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs Daniel Kritenbrink leave the airport for talks with the Solomons government in Honiara on 22 April.
A US diplomatic team including assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs Daniel Kritenbrink in the Solomon Islands on 22 April to talk with the prime minister about the new security deal with China. Photograph: Jay Liofasi/AFP/Getty Images

One of the most senior US officials in the Pacific has refused to rule out military action against Solomon Islands if it were to allow China to establish a military base there, saying that the security deal between the countries presented “potential regional security implications” for the US and other allies.

Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, was part of a high-level US delegation to the Pacific country last week.

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