Solomon Islands leader visits Beijing, highlighting US-China rivalry in South Pacific

News Snapshot:

BEIJING (AP) — Leaders of the Solomon Islands and China on Monday promised to expand relations that have fueled unease in Washington and Australia about Beijing’s influence in the South Pacific. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the country’s No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang. Sogavare and Li presided over the signing of agreements on police, economic and technical cooperation. “We are here to further boost relations,” Sogavare told Li following a ceremony at which a Chinese military band played the Solomon Islands national anthem. The Solomon Islands, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Australia, has...