Beijing has dismissed speculation it intends to build a military base on Solomon Islands after signing a security agreement with the Pacific nation.
"The so-called Chinese military base in Solomon Islands is completely fabricated with disinformation by a few people with ulterior motives," China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing on Monday.
A draft of the agreement, which was leaked online last month, said Chinese warships could stop in Solomon Islands for logistical replenishment and that China could send police and armed forces there "to assist in maintaining social order".
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has insisted no Chinese military bases would be built in his country.
Mr Wang's comments came after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday that China's recent security deal with the South Pacific country was a "shared concern" of regional nations, and Beijing building a military base there was a "red line" for Australia.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton warned last week China would not waste any time expanding its presence in the South Pacific after signing the controversial security pact.
The United States has urged Solomon Islands not to allow a Chinese military base in the country, warning it would "respond accordingly" to any steps in that direction.
Mr Wang announced last Tuesday the agreement had been signed, saying it would involve China cooperating with Honiara on maintaining social order, protecting people's safety, aid, combating natural disasters and helping safeguard national security.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the Coalition had "dropped the ball" on relations with the Pacific nations and he found it "just remarkable" Mr Morrison had not personally called the Solomon Islands Prime Minister.
"I find it incredible that the Foreign Minister or the Defence Minister were not dispatched to the Solomons, even though our intelligence told us that this was on the cards, according to the government itself, for a long period of time," Mr Albanese told Perth radio station 6PR.
"So we want to strengthen those partnerships with a comprehensive package of new programs."
The ABC approached the Prime Minister's office for comment but it did not respond by deadline.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne earlier on Tuesday criticised Labor's Pacific engagement plans for lacking substance.
She also said they only mirrored existing government programs.
Mr Morrison also took aim at the opposition's plan for boosting funding for the ABC in the Pacific, suggesting it would have little impact on key geostrategic contests in the region.
"I don't think that's a true reflection or an understanding of the challenges that we face," he said.
"No Australian government has stood up more firmly to the Chinese government's coercion of our region, and Australia and our government will keep doing that."
Mr Wang on Monday also slammed AUKUS, a trilateral security pact between Australia, the US and UK, as a "backroom deal" and urged the three nations to seek regional countries' approval of the agreement.
"I note that the US and Australia have accused the framework agreement of China-Solomon Islands security cooperation of lacking transparency, but the trilateral security partnership between the US, UK and Australia (AUKUS) is precisely a backroom deal that is not open or transparent," he said.
"We are wondering when the US, UK and Australia will submit this partnership to regional countries, including the South Pacific Island states, for consideration?"
ABC/AP
