A former Australian diplomat is warning the new Solomon Islands and China security pact could see both Australian and Chinese troops on the ground in the Pacific Nation at the same time.
"Given the radically different backgrounds of our two countries, that's a potentially quite difficult situation," said James Batley, former Australian high commissioner to the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands and China signed a wide-ranging security deal in April that opens the way for Beijing to send police and military forces to the Pacific nation.
Australia currently has security forces stationed in the capital of Honiara in response to a request from the Solomon Islands government in the aftermath of anti-Chinese riots last November.
Australia also led the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) between 2003 and 2017 to help the country deal with ethnic violence.
But Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Chinese TV last month that it is important for the Pacific nations to have other security partners as well.
Former Solomon Islands prime minister and currently serving MP Rick Hou is concerned about how the new security agreement with China will operate.
"Sogavare is not short of controversy, he will come up with [something] that will trigger another riot or another demonstration," he told 7.30.
"And who knows what will happen? Instead of calling the Australians, he will call the Chinese military here. I don't know, but that's very, very possible."
James Batley led RAMSI in 2006 when Prime Minister Sogavare — then in his second term in office — had a falling-out with Canberra over Australia's management of the mission.
"I think the relationship has been pretty up and down over quite a long period of time," Mr Batley said.
"I don't think Mr Sogavare has any real experience and background in Australia, so I don't think he's got natural sympathies there.
"He's certainly appreciated some of the things Australia has done for his country, particularly through the RAMSI intervention.
Upcoming election critical
Pacific analyst with the University of Hawaii, Dr Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, says the next critical development could be the timing of the Solomon Islands general election.
"The election is planned for next year, [but] the government is trying to push it back another year," he said.
"There is resistance to extending the life of the parliament. The government, however, does have the numbers."
"It will be interesting, given there has been a lot of discussion, particularly amongst young people, about the relationship with China, [and] whether that will influence the election."
The change of government in Australia may help relations with the Solomon Islands, according to Dr Wesley Morgan from the Griffith Asia Institute.
The change of rhetoric on climate change, he argues, is important.
"There's no doubt that Australia's reluctance to cut emissions at home impacted the relationship with Pacific nations including the Solomon Islands," he said.
"It is going to be an ongoing conversation."
Watch this story on 7.30 tonight on ABC TV and ABC iview.
