Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands has dismissed claims that the country’s policing deal with China poses a threat to regional peace. Sogavare stated that China’s police force will enhance the capabilities of its 1,500 officers in cybersecurity and community policing, adding to the support already provided by Australia and New Zealand. However, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the opposition party in the Solomon Islands have called for the details of the policing deal to be made public, expressing concerns about potential regional competition. Sogavare’s office responded by saying that the country is expanding its security partnerships and that no one has a monopoly on knowledge. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also conveyed Australia’s security concerns during a meeting with China’s top diplomat in Jakarta. The statement from Sogavare’s office emphasized that the improvement of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the completion of the Forensic Autopsy Lab are not threats to regional peace and security. It also highlighted the need to address gaps in policing exposed by riots in the capital city of Honiara in 2021. Prior to his visit to China, Sogavare announced a review of Australia’s security treaty. Opposition leader Matthew Wale emphasized the importance of upholding human rights and due process in policing, particularly in democracies. Meg Keen, director of the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands program, pointed out that the issue lies not in China’s supply of security equipment but in the compatibility of Chinese and Pacific policing methods. During his visit to Beijing, Sogavare pledged support for China’s Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative policy, which involve infrastructure investment and security cooperation. The Solomon Islands, with a population of 700,000 people spread across an archipelago strategically located in the Pacific, played a significant role in World War II and is currently a focal point for tensions over Taiwan. Opposition leader Wale expressed concerns that China’s interests may clash with US influence and strategic interests in the region, placing the Solomon Islands in a precarious position.