Australia 'very aware' of China plans for Solomon Islands wharves, says PM Morrison | South China Morning Post

Australia's prime minister said on Monday he was aware of China's ambitions in the southwest Pacific after a newspaper reported plans by Beijing to build wharves, shipyards and underwater cables in the Solomon Islands. The Australian newspaper published a leaked four-page draft maritime cooperation agreement between China and the Solomon Islands dated this year. That follows the recent confirmation by China and the Pacific island nation that they have signed a separate security agreement that the United States and its allies fear could lead to a Chinese naval base less than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) from the Australian coast. Security…