Australia’s Scott Morrison says he’ll ‘ensure’ no China base on Solomon Islands

News Snapshot:

Australia will work with its allies to ensure China does not set up a military base in the Solomon Islands, Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed on Sunday during a heated pre-election debate. China’s growing clout in the Pacific has become a hot political issue in Australia ahead of May 21 elections, following Beijing’s announcement last month that it had signed a security pact with the Solomons. The China-Solomons deal has not been publicly released but a leaked draft alarmed countries in the region, particularly sections that would allow Chinese naval deployments to the Solomons – less than 2,000 kilometres (1,200...