Solomons leader rules out hosting China military base

Sydney (AFP) April 1, 2022

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said Friday his government would not allow a Chinese military base to be built in his country "under its watch" as he defended a pending security agreement with Beijing. Sogavare, echoing a fiery speech he made to Honiara's parliament this week, dismissed concerns the deal would allow China a base in the South Pacific and labelled the claims a