Australia must be on ‘alert’ to China-Solomon Island deal

Senior Analyst at ASPI Marcus Hellyer says Australia must be on “alert’ concerning the proposed deal between China and the Solomon Islands.

Mr Hellyer said the Chinese influence is growing in the South Pacific.

“One of the problems with our relationship with the South Pacific is that we tend to be very involved for a few years, and then we lose interest for a few years,” he told Sky News Australia.

“We need to step up again.”