Back to Story
FILE - Micronesia's President David Panuelo sits at a table during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on Dec. 13, 2019. Panuelo, the president of Micronesia, one of the nations targeted by China, warned the other Pacific nations against a security pact with China, saying it “threatens to bring a new Cold War at best, and a world war at worst.”(Noel Celis/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Micronesia's President David Panuelo sits at a table during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on Dec. 13, 2019. Panuelo, the president of Micronesia, one of the nations targeted by China, warned the other Pacific nations against a security pact with China, saying it “threatens to bring a new Cold War at best, and a world war at worst.”(Noel Celis/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Oct. 9, 2019. When China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands in April, 2022, it raised concerns from the U.S. and its allies that Beijing may be seeking a military outpost in the South Pacific, an area of traditional American naval dominance. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

FILE - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Oct. 9, 2019. When China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands in April, 2022, it raised concerns from the U.S. and its allies that Beijing may be seeking a military outpost in the South Pacific, an area of traditional American naval dominance. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at right lock arms with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (Xinhua via AP)

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at right lock arms with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (Xinhua via AP)

In this image taken from video, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a keynote address at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Suva, Fiji. (Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade via AP)

In this image taken from video, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a keynote address at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Suva, Fiji. (Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade via AP)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele hold a joint press conference in Honiara, Solomon Islands, early Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wang and a 20-strong delegation have arrived in the Solomon Islands at the start of an eight-nation Pacific tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing's military and financial ambitions in the region. (AP Photo)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele hold a joint press conference in Honiara, Solomon Islands, early Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wang and a 20-strong delegation have arrived in the Solomon Islands at the start of an eight-nation Pacific tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing's military and financial ambitions in the region. (AP Photo)

FILE - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shows the way to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, as they attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting the South Pacific with a 20-person delegation this week in a display of Beijing's growing military and diplomatic presence in the region. (Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shows the way to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, as they attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting the South Pacific with a 20-person delegation this week in a display of Beijing's growing military and diplomatic presence in the region. (Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Australia's Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong speaks in Suva, Fiji, Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wong says it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia. (Leon Lord/Fiji Sun via AP)

Australia's Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong speaks in Suva, Fiji, Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wong says it was up to each island nation to decide what partnerships they formed and what agreements they signed, but urged them to consider the benefits of sticking with Australia. (Leon Lord/Fiji Sun via AP)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele hold a joint news conference in Honiara, Solomon Islands, early Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wang and a 20-strong delegation have arrived in the Solomon Islands at the start of an eight-nation Pacific tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing's military and financial ambitions in the region. (AP Photo)

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele hold a joint news conference in Honiara, Solomon Islands, early Thursday, May 26, 2022. Wang and a 20-strong delegation have arrived in the Solomon Islands at the start of an eight-nation Pacific tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing's military and financial ambitions in the region. (AP Photo)