00:00A low-key announcement.
00:04Good morning on this beautiful Canberra day.
00:06Of high consequence.
00:08A new foundation for Australia's security relationship with the Solomon Islands has
00:14been advanced.
00:15For decades, Solomon Islands has grappled with unrest, with Australia repeatedly sending
00:22police and troops to help restore order.
00:25In June, its Prime Minister asked Australia to help double the size of its own police
00:31force.
00:32I am committed to ensure our relationship with Australia goes from strength to strength.
00:38Now Australia's agreed to funnel $190 million to the force over four years to grow its ranks
00:45and set up a major new training centre in its capital, Honiara.
00:49Package will improve funding, training and infrastructure, support to grow the Royal
00:54Solomon Islands Police Force in a sustainable manner.
00:58It's not simple charity.
01:01China signed its own security agreements with Solomon Islands and Chinese police are rolling
01:06out their own training programs across the country.
01:10They won't be forced out under this deal, but the government believes it will reinforce
01:16Australia's position.
01:18It's about the capacity of the police force to provide security.
01:23And what that does is reduce any need for outside support.
01:30It keeps Australia in the game, but it doesn't slow down that pace of competition because
01:34Solomon Islands hasn't committed in black and white terms to Australia over China.
01:39There's a clear contrast between today's announcement and the more sweeping strategic packs that
01:44the government has unveiled recently with smaller Pacific nations like Nauru and Tuvalu,
01:50who have both agreed to give Australia effective veto power over their security decisions.
01:56What that demonstrates is that stopping China from getting a foot in the door when it comes
02:00to policing in the Pacific is much easier than forcing them out when they're already here.
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