U.S. Diplomats gracefully “warned” their counterparts in the Solomon Islands that His Wisdom Joe Biden will “take action” if the South Pacific nation does what it looks like they just did, without saying what that action might be. Officials from the Ministry of State got to take a vacation in Wellington, New Zealand, at taxpayer expense, simply so they could deliver the message in person. It’s the sort of threat which, to be made properly, can’t be recorded for posterity in an email.
Diplomats sent south
Leadership in the Solomons recently made a back room deal with the Pooh Bear, called a “cooperation agreement,” which leaked out through Australia. Our intelligence spooks see the arrangement as a threat. They say, it opens a door that Xi Jinping will quickly kick in.
The Palace press corps released a statement explaining why “the message was delivered directly to the country’s leadership by a visiting senior U.S. delegation.” Those diplomats didn’t waste any time expressing “concern” that the bargain “raises questions about its scope and purpose.”
Washington is convinced that the secret package is anything but “purely domestic.” Once the hidden deal saw the light of day, by being leaked to the press, both China and the Solomons confirmed they came to an understanding.
Diplomats are alarmed because the “security pact” lets China build up military forces in the area. Anyone who ever played a game of Risk knows how that move goes.
Diplomats never come straight to the point. “Solomon Islands representatives indicated that the agreement had solely domestic applications.”
But, they continued, “the U.S. delegation noted there are potential regional security implications of the accord, including for the United States and its allies and partners.”
Clear areas of concern
The American diplomats “outlined clear areas of concern with respect to the purpose, scope, and transparency of the agreement.” Things are bad enough now but they’ll get worse if China tries to set up a base.
“If steps are taken to establish a de facto permanent military presence, power-projection capabilities, or a military installation,” Uncle Sam will be forced to do “something.”
The delegation of state department diplomats “noted that the United States would then have significant concerns and respond accordingly.” It’ll be serious, they suggest.
Politically speaking, they made the Solomon Islands the kind of deal they can’t refuse which involves waking up in bed with the head of your favorite thoroughbred.
The diplomats are sure they got their message across. The press corps insists “that Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had assured the U.S. there would be no long-term Chinese presence on the islands and no power projection capability.” At the same time, we’re watching them close.
The Pentagon will “follow developments closely in consultation with regional partners.” The thing that bothers them the most is that line in the contract that allows China to “send police and armed forces there.” They can do that “to assist in maintaining social order.” Watch for signs of social unrest to pop up in the South Pacific, right on cue.
