A US Coast Guard cutter conducting patrols as part of an international mission to prevent illegal fishing was unable to receive clearance for a scheduled port call in the Solomon Islands, an incident that comes amid growing concerns of Chinese influence on the Pacific nation.
The cutter Oliver Henry was taking part in Operation Island Chief, which was monitoring fishing activities in the Pacific, when it sought to make a scheduled stop at Guadalcanal to refuel and reprovision, the coast guard office in Honolulu said.
However, there was no response from the Solomon Islands’ government to a request to make a port call, so the Oliver Henry diverted to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, the coast guard said.
Photo: Screenshot from US Coast Guard Sector Guam’s Facebook
The British Royal Navy did not comment directly on reports that the HMS Spey, also taking part in the operation, was also denied a port call in the Solomon Islands.
“Ships’ programs are under constant review, and it is routine practice for them to change,” the navy said in a statement. “For reasons of operational security we do not discuss details. The Royal Navy looks forward to visiting the Solomon Islands at a later date.”
During Operation Island Chief, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand provided support through aerial and surface surveillance for Pacific island nations participating in the operation, including the Solomon Islands.
China has been assertively trying to expand its presence and influence in the Pacific, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare alarmed some neighbors, the US and others in May by signing a security pact with Beijing.
The pact has raised fears of a Chinese naval base being established within 2,000km of Australia’s northeast coast.
A Chinese military presence in the Solomon Islands would put it on the doorstep of Australia and New Zealand, and within proximity to Guam, a US territory that hosts major military bases.
The Solomon Islands and China have denied that their pact would lead to a Chinese military foothold in the South Pacific.
Sogavare also raised eyebrows on Aug. 7 when he skipped a memorial service marking the anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal, a key battle in World War II in which the US and other Allied forces wrested control of the islands from Japan.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who attended the memorial, said Sogavare “missed an important opportunity” by failing to attend.
US Senator Marsha Blackburn met with Sogavare in the Solomon Islands on Wednesday, but it was not clear whether she raised the issue of the refused port call.
Blackburn said in a statement that her visit to the Solomon Islands, as well as to Fiji and Papua New Guinea, “was an important step in showcasing America’s commitment to the region and expanding our strategic relationships.”
The coast guard said it respects the sovereignty of its foreign partners and looks forward to future engagement with the Solomon Islands.
Coast Guard Lieutenant Kristin Kam told the Stars and Stripes newspaper that the US Department of State had been in touch with the Solomon Islands government following the refusal of the port call and that they “expect all future clearances will be provided to US ships.”
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