Via The Australian:
Chinese investors have been approached by Solomon Islands politicians and Australian business interests to build a new airport and maintenance facility on the Pacific nation’s main island of Guadalcanal.
The Australian has confirmed that the investment was likely to include a shopping district and investors were hoping to construct a tourism hub, in a move that could threaten Australia’s strategic presence in the Pacific region.
…The establishment of a Japanese airfield on Guadalcanal in World War II was seen as a threat to American supply routes to Australia and New Zealand, posing a direct security threat to the US Pacific Fleet.
…Jonathan Pryke, director of the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands Program, said: “This certainly raised the eyebrows of some people … it’s a large piece of infrastructure that could have dual-use purposes sometime in the future … there’s been no signal from any side that is the intent, but intent can change.”
She’ll be right.
