The agreement will also allow Chinese naval ships to stop in the Solomon Islands for “logistical support”.
Western nations fear the deal will allow China to establish a de facto naval base in the Pacific.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has defended the pact with China. He says the deal will not “undermine the peace and harmony of our region”.
Dr. Tess Cain from the Griffith Asia Institute told Ticker News China has significant economic interests in the Solomon Islands, which were threatened during the riots.
“Security has been a concern, particularly since the riots of last year where we saw Chinese businesses targeted,” she says.
Dr. Cain says the main reason for the deal is for China to protect these economic interests.
Dr. Cain says China is broadening its economic ties across the region. But she says there is nothing unusual about its desire to protect its economic interests.
“It’s not uncommon for countries, large countries such as China or the US to seek to protect their own citizens.” she says.
A naval base in the Pacific?
Nations including the U.S., Australia and New Zealand have voiced concerns that following the deal, the Solomon islands will become a Chinese military outpost.
Indeed, Australian Opposition Minister Penny Wong told the ABC the deal is “the worst foreign policy blunder in the Pacific since World War Two”.
While Dr. Cain refuses to rule any possibilities out, she believes a Chinese military base in the Pacific remains a remote possibility.
While the deal creates the potential for a higher presence of Chinese assets, Dr. Cain believes it is unlikely to make a noticeable difference.
Australia’s multimillion-dollar campaign to attract Hollywood productions to its shores appears to be paying off.
The allure of Australia lies not only in its picturesque locations but also in its competitive financial incentives.
The government offers generous rebates and tax breaks to international productions, making it an attractive proposition for filmmakers looking to maximise their budgets.
Despite the recent intake of Hollywood productions down under such as ‘The Fall Guy’ and ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’, Aussie independents are still finding the space to carve their own creative path.
Rob Fantozzi joined the program to discuss the latest in Hollywood, and showcased his own upcoming project – ‘Omerta‘. #featured
An international video portal has been forced to shut down after an OnlyFans model reportedly flashed passersby from across the globe.
On this episode of Ahron and Mike Live – Which would you prefer; pay rise or work perks, an international portal closes, the military reveal a submarine stingray and are you on a top or bottom burger bun?
Ticker’s Ahron Young & Mike Loder discuss. #featured #trending
American home prices are rising at faster pace now than in the last 20-years.
A recent analysis reveals a jaw dropping surge in the cost of American homes.
Since the start of 2020, U.S. home prices have surged 47% easily outstripping the gains seen in recent decades.
On top of that, home price growth so far this decade is on the verge of surpassing all the growth seen in the 2000s.
Many experts believe this decade’s housing market frenzy was ignited by a perfect storm — the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic triggering an unprecedented rush among buyers.
Tom Hutchens, the Executive Vice President of Production at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions joins Veronica Dudo to discuss.
#IN AMERICA TODAY #economy #housing #housingmarket #homeprices #homesales #inflation #trending