Potential China military base in Solomons (1 Viewer)

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Yomiuri News on June 1.

On June 13, the Japanese government will dispatch a fleet of JMSDF escort ships DDH Izumo, DD Takanami, DD Kirisame and a submarine with a P-1 patrol plane to the Indo-Pacific region including Solomon Islands. The fleet plans to visit 12 countries by October 28. Purpose is to restrain China which aims to expand its influence in this region recently...

Original news in Japanese:
 
Considering the nations involved, I figured this would be the best thread for reposting this article:


Australia's Defense Department announced on Sunday that one of its surveillance aircraft had been "dangerously" intercepted by a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea in late May, criticizing the incident as needlessly provocative and dangerous to the pilots.

The Australian aircraft, identified as a Boeing P-8 Poseidon, was intercepted on May 26 by a Chinese Shenyang J-16, during what authorities described as a "routine maritime surveillance activity" in international airspace. During the interception, the Chinese aircraft reportedly flew close in front of the Australian plane and released a bundle of chaff, or small reflective pieces of aluminum designed to obstruct radar and confuse missiles, which was subsequently ingested into the plane's engines.

"The intercept resulted in a dangerous maneuver which posed a safety threat to the P-8 aircraft and its crew," the Australian statement read. "The Australian Government has raised its concerns about the incident with the Chinese Government," the statement added.

"[The Department of] Defense has for decades undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace," it continued.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, who took office three days before the incident took place, told reporters on Sunday that Australian officials had raised concerns with their Chinese counterparts "through appropriate channels." China's embassy in Canberra, Australia's capital, did not comment on the incident.[/i

 
Britain's abandonment of East of Suez was such a dumb move. France, facing equally troubling economic times kept its Pacific bases, and so should have Britain. Britain should have kept the Solomons, or at least kept a small base. Offer them British citizenship, same as today's Falklanders, and as France has done across its overseas territory. Same with Singapore, the locals asked Britain to stay, not as colonial overseers, but to keep the naval base.
 
I'm curious as to how Honiara's security will be enhanced by the PLA. I wasn't aware Tonga was threatening Honiara.
 
"A member of JMSDF was attacked attending a memorial service in Solomon Islands
(Jiji August 08, 2022)

A member of the JMSDF escort ship "Kirisame" that visits Solomon Islands has been attacked. Four members participated in the memorial ceremony held near the capital Honiara. According to New Zealand media and other sources, the member was stabbed in the neck with scissors but suffered minor injuries. The man who stabbed lived nearby and was mentally unstable. The man was arrested at the scene and handed over to police."

Looks too late to be a legacy of ww2.
Source: 海上自衛隊員1人襲われる 慰霊式に出席中―ソロモン諸島:時事ドットコム
 
US coast guard ships are used for illegal fishing patrols along with Australian, New Zealand and British ships.

They use Coast Guard ships from the US as it can arouse sensitivities if US naval vessels are used.
 

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