Australia and New Zealand have raised “grave” concerns about the potential for a Chinese military presence on the Solomon Islands, amid growing tensions in the Pacific region, with the US embarking on live-fire military drills with the Philippines.

The island nation – located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,240 miles off the coast of Australia – confirmed it was expanding ties with China to combat security threats and ensure a safe environment for investment.

A draft security arrangement could see China send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomons “to assist in maintaining social order” and for a variety of other reasons.

It could also send ships to the islands for stopovers and to replenish supplies.

The potential China security pact with the Solomon Islands has sparked concerns among Western nations, particularly in Australia – which already has a security agreement with the archipelago – and New Zealand, and comes amid simmering tensions over Taiwan and growing Chinese regional assertiveness.

The Queen is head of state of the archipelago and it was a British protectorate until it gained independence in 1978. The Queen is represented on the islands by the governor general.

Meanwhile, thousands of American and Filipino military personnel began one of their largest combat exercises in years on Monday that will include live-fire manoeuvres, aircraft assaults, urban warfare and beach landings in a showcase of firepower in the northern Philippines near its sea border with Taiwan.

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China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, has previously expressed concern about Western military activity close to its borders.

‘Gravely concerning’ move

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the move by the Solomons as “gravely concerning” and warned of a possible “militarisation” of the region, speaking to Radio NZ.

Ms Ardern urged the country’s leaders “not to look beyond our own Pacific family” when considering the country’s security relationships.

The Solomon Islands, whose capital is Honiara, is home to less than a million people but its recent expansion of relations with China has rung alarm bells way beyond its borders.

On Thursday, a Solomon Islands official told the Reuters news agency that a security deal with China covering the military would be sent to its cabinet for consideration. The Solomons has already signed a policing deal with China.

Washington last month said it would open an embassy in the nation’s capital amid fears China was seeking to strengthen military relations there.

China says cooperation ‘warmly welcomed’

On Saturday, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “there is great concern across the Pacific family because we are in constant contact with our Pacific family”.

In November 2021, mass rioting and unrest broke out in the Solomon Islands which led to the deployment of Australian Federal Police and Defence Forces.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, has dismissed the concerns, saying: “The cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands has been warmly welcomed by the Solomon government and people.

“No attempt to disrupt and undermine the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries will succeed,” Mr Wang told reporters at a daily briefing on Monday.

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