Solomon Islands Opposition Peter Kenilorea slams Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s claims over Chinese deal

The Solomon Islands Opposition has lashed out at Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s “insane, unhinged” claim that Australia’s threat to invade the country mapped out the potential for the leader to instate Chinese security. Solomon Islands Opposition MP Peter Kenilorea Junior said Chinese security personnel could soon swamp Australian peacekeepers in the country, the Australian reported. Mr Kenilorea also warned that Mr Sogavare was likely to arrange a “strong-arm” force to secure his position in power. Mr Kenilorea said Mr Sogavare’s “insane, unhinged” claim this week that Australia had threatened to invade the country set the scene for deployment of Chinese “boots on the ground”. Earlier Scott Morrison warned of implications of a Chinese base in the Solomon Islands saying it would be a “redline” for Australia. Mr Morrison was scrutinised while on his campaign trail in Sydney over Mr Sogavare’s attack, arguing his Pacific counterpart “has not a word of criticism for our country”. However, Labor Defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor said Mr Morrison had fired up the Solomon Islands PM with his “rhetorical redline reference”. Australia currently has 120 Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police in Honiara, where they will stay posted until late 2023 helping local police to maintain order. Mr Kenilorea said Mr Sogavare would need Chinese security personnel on the ground if he forced ahead with his proposed delay to national elections, from May next year until 2024. Mr Sogavare said in his address to Parliament on Wednesday that critics of his China security deal had treated Solomon Islanders like “kindergarten students walking around with Colt .45s in our hands”. “We deplore the continual demonstration of lack of trust by the concerned parties, and tacit warning of military intervention in Solomon Islands if their national interest is undermined in Solomon Islands,” Mr Sogavare said.