No military element to Solomon Islands cooperation, Chinese ministry says

FILE PHOTO: Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People i

BEIJING (Reuters) – There is “no military element” in the security cooperation between China and Soloman Islands, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.

After a regional backlash, the Solomon Islands on Friday said it would not allow a Chinese military base in the Pacific islands nation despite its plans to sign a security pact with Beijing.

(Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Writing by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by David Goodman)

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