A Solomon Islands political scholar says concerns China will base warships in Honiara following the finalisation of a security treaty between the two countries is unjustified.
University of Hawaii's director of Pacific Islands Studies, Tarcisius Kabuataulaka, says the reaction from Australia, New Zealand and the United States is "understandable", but establishing military bases in other nations isn't how China way operates.
He says the Beijing-Honiara security pact has also made it evident that domestic political differences are the biggest security threat for the Melanesian nation.
He spoke to RNZ Pacific regional correspondent Kelvin Anthony.
A Chinese Navy formation, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning (C), during military drills in the South China Sea on January 2, 2017. Photo: STR / AFP
