![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/04/19/06/Solomon_Islands_47870.jpg?width=1024&auto=webp)
Australia has sought to defend its ties with Solomon Islands after the South Pacific nation signed a security pact with China.
Prime minister Scott Morrison dismissed a furious response by the leader of the islands to western criticism of the deal.
In a fiery speech to parliament on Tuesday, the Solomons’ prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, said: “We are threatened with invasion”, but did not name any countries or give evidence for his claim.