Solomon Islands PM Says China Security Pact Must Remain Secret Due to Non-Disclosure Clause

Prime Minister Matthew Wale confirmed on Wednesday that the Solomon Islands' security agreement with China, signed in 2022 under former PM Manasseh Sogavare, contains a non-disclosure clause that legally bars him from releasing the document publicly. Wale acknowledged the reversal from his earlier position as an opposition figure who had demanded the pact be made public, framing his decision as a matter of legal obligation rather than political choice. A previously leaked draft of the agreement included language stating neither party could disclose cooperation information to a third party without written consent. In response, Wale pledged to reform Solomon Islands' legislative standing orders to require parliamentary scrutiny of any future international treaties. Separately, Wale indicated that Solomon Islands would pursue a new bilateral treaty with Australia, comparing it to existing Pacific security agreements such as the Falepili Union with Tuvalu and the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu, and said he would push for visa-free access for Solomon Islands citizens as part of those negotiations. He described the relationship with Australia as having been damaged by 'distrust' under previous governments and said the new agreement would establish clear obligations for both sides. Wale stressed that China remains a valued partner but acknowledged that the former government's approach had created 'strategic uncertainty' in the region.