Q: At the press conference of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) held yesterday, the Secretariat, when answering questions indicating about China-Solomon Islands security cooperation and the 2nd China-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, claimed that security issue has “regional impacts” and “leaders are asking each member country to share with the others when they decide to enter into arrangements”, and China “came here with their own prepared outcomes document and it was that our members have reacted against.” What is the Embassy’s comment on this?

A: The Chinese side has stated our position many times on the China-Solomon Islands security cooperation. I would like to reiterate that China-Solomon Islands cooperation is based on Solomon Islands’ needs and requirements, on the premise of Solomon Islands’ consent, and on the basis of equal consultation. And it is the normal cooperation between sovereign countries. It is never China’s foreign policy, nor is it Chinese style, to impose business deals on others, interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, or damage other countries’ interests. The China-Solomon Islands security cooperation aims to assist Solomon Islands in improving its policing and law enforcement capabilities and support Solomon Islands to better safeguard its social security while also protecting the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Solomon Islands, which is reasonable and legitimate with everything being operated in an open and transparent manner. The China-Solomon Islands security cooperation is not targeting third parties and not intending to establish military bases. At the same time, China-Solomon Islands security cooperation and the existing regional arrangements complement each other, sharing the same objectives and interests. China-Solomon Islands security cooperation conforms to the common interests of Solomon Islands and the South Pacific region.

The cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is open and transparent, aboveboard and frank. We have never attached any political strings and never imposed anything on anyone. The cooperation between China and PICs is always on the premise of PICs’ needs. During the 2nd China-PICs Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the participants spoke highly of China’s mutually beneficial cooperation with PICs and fully recognized China’s efforts in maintaining peace, stability, development and prosperity in the South Pacific region. The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting has also discussed the vision and ideas of future cooperation between China and PICs and reached new consensus. The participants agreed to continue this positive process in order to build more and broader consensus. About the outcome document of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, I would like to stress that it is international practice and common sense for the host party to prepare the zero draft for consultation by all parties. It was over one month before the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that the Chinese side had begun to consult with relevant parties on the draft. China has also collected opinions, respected all parties’ concerns and listened to the voices of PICs on the topics of the Meeting. The remarks made by the Secretariat is groundless.