Solomon Islands bans US naval visits

[Boats]

Solomon Islands bans US naval visits amid fears China's influence over the Pacific nation is growing after the two signed a security pact in April
By: Chris Jewers for Mailonline & Daily Mail - 08-30-22
Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-growing.html

* Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare announced the suspension on Tuesday
* Came after the US embassy in Canberra said it was given 'formal notification'
* The step follows an incident last week when a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry, was unable to make a routine port call at the capital, Honiara
* The U.S. hospital ship Mercy had been allowed to dock on Monday

The Solomon Islands has suspended all visits from the United States Navy, heightening concerns over the growing influence of China in the region.

The prime minister's office announced the suspension on Tuesday, in what he said is a bid to better police the country's exclusive economic zones. It comes after the country signed a security pact with China this year.

The suspension follows an incident last week when a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry, was unable to make a routine port call because the government did not respond to a request for it to refuel and provision.

'The United States received formal notification from the Government of Solomon Islands regarding a moratorium on all naval visits, pending updates in protocol procedures,' a spokeswoman from the US embassy in Australia said in a statement.

Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare said in a statement: 'We have requested our partners to give us time to review, and put in place our new processes, before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country.

'These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels,' he added, in the statement sent to Reuters news agency. Sogavare added that he wanted to build national capacity to police the Pacific island nation's exclusive economic zones.

In a speech on Tuesday afternoon to welcome the visiting U.S. hospital ship Mercy, Sogavare said last week's delay over the Oliver Henry was because the information had not been sent to his office on time.

The Mercy had been allowed to dock Monday as part of a humanitarian mission to the country - but the embassy noted it had received clearance before the moratorium was put in place.

Sogavare also confirmed delays in approving entry for the British navy ship Spey, which also aborted its planned port call, the statement said. As a result of the two incidents, the Solomon Islands is reviewing the approval procedures, it said.

Washington expressed its disappointment after the Oliver Henry was denied permission to refuel in the Solomons capital of Honiara

'The United States is disappointed that the US Coast Guard ship was not able to make this planned stop in Honiara,' the statement said.

'We will continue to closely monitor the situation.'

Earlier, the United States embassy in Canberra, the Australian capital, had said the Solomon Islands had notified it of a moratorium on navy vessels entering its ports.

'On Aug. 29, the United States received formal notification from the government of Solomon Islands regarding a moratorium on all naval visits, pending updates in protocol procedures,' the embassy said in a statement.

The Mercy had arrived before the moratorium, the embassy said, adding that it was monitoring the situation.

The Solomon Islands has had a tense relationship with the United States and its allies since striking a security pact with China this year.

The Oliver Henry was on patrol for illegal fishing in the South Pacific for a regional fisheries agency at the time it sought entry to refuel at Honiara, the Solomons' capital.

On Monday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson called the lack of clearance for the Oliver Henry 'regrettable', saying the United States was pleased the Mercy had received clearance.

Separately, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said it was regrettable that 'we've seen the Chinese try to bully and coerce nations throughout the Indo-Pacific to do their bidding and to serve what they believe their selfish national security interests are, rather than the broader interests of a free and open Indo-Pacific'.

It was unclear whether the suspension also applied to other navies, including close partner Australia.
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Personal note: China is pushing all the buttonos of late. Australia & China are also
at odds. Not sure what they hope to gain by turning away hospital ships and coast
guard vessels - but once again China is flexing its international leverage.
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