Australia invoking its own sphere of influence

Australia's immediate reaction to the agreement signed by China and the Solomon Islands has been to give it closer scrutiny. However, Australia's overstretch rather confirms that nothing in the agreement says China is bent on establishing a military base in the Pacific, as was alleged by some Australian officials.

The trouble is the hysterical reaction from Australia－itself the fruit of Western colonization－that claims the agreement is preparatory to establishing a military base. This third-party interpretation of the agreement between the Solomon Islands and China shows an obvious degree of insecurity.

The Western narrative dishing out disinformation against China highlights the deteriorating relations between Australia and the Solomon Islands.

Meanwhile, the United States' fears over its waning influence are growing as Chinese traders stretch to all shores of the Pacific Ocean and countries such as the Solomon Islands stop diplomatic recognition of China's Taiwan.

The agreement signed by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi prompted Australia to invoke its own sphere of influence.

Australia wants to impose its version of the US' Monroe Doctrine. But how is that going to work when the Solomon Islands is separated from Australia by 3,000 kilometers? Misplaced application of that doctrine could technically bring more than one-third of the entire Pacific Ocean under the control and responsibility of the US, with AUKUS (the security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the US); ANZUS(Australia, New Zealand and the US) and Five Eyes (the intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US) acting as informal partners.

The fate and future of the entire Pacific region should not be co-opted by the West to contain the rising influence of China.

Australia's talk of economic assistance reflects the opposite of what it has been doing. Admittedly, Australia remains the biggest donor to the Solomon Islands. But for the years that Australia has acted as "caretaker", the islands' economy has not been propelled to a level of economic sufficiency.

The Solomon Islands remains dependent on Australia while exporting such goods as wood, aluminum ore, palm oil and frozen fish. Meanwhile, its imports of such things as refined petroleum, rice, poultry and excavation machinery remain highly in favor of Australia.

For 14 years, Australian troops had been stationed in the Solomon Islands under the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands that was established by Australia. The mission has thus become the basis to justify its presence. However, the presence of Australian soldiers did nothing to quell the rioting in November and the burning of commercial establishments in the capital, Honiara.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is looking to China for the islands' continued stability. It is clear that Australia and some of its brokers like the US are merely speculating about China in countering its growing influence.

Judging from the dozens of US military bases in other countries, compared with only one for China (and none in the Asia-Pacific region), Australia should be worried about how the US operators of military bases are subjugating the people of the land they are stationed in, including some Australians.

The author is a Manila-based political analyst and columnist with the Manila Standard.