Visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang after they witnessed signing on agreement for both countries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, July 10, 2023. Andy Wong/AP hide caption
Visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang after they witnessed signing on agreement for both countries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, July 10, 2023. Andy Wong/AP hide caption
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talk during a ceremony to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Solomon Islands and China at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Sept. 21, 2019. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigns in Sydney, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Mick Tsikas/AP hide caption
Australian shadow foreign affairs minister Penny Wong speaks to media in Darwin, Australia, Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Australia's opposition party promises to establish a Pacific defense school to train neighboring armies in response to China's potential military presence on the Solomon Islands. George Fragopoulos/AP hide caption
A display case of photos is seen outside the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands, April 2, 2022. Charley Piringi/AP hide caption
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, left, arrives for a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal year 2023 defense budget on April 5, 2022, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption
Graffiti written on the burnt out buildings from riots in Honiara's Chinatown from Nov. 2021, is seen in the Solomon Islands on March 30, 2022. Charley Piringi/AP hide caption
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Oct. 9, 2019. Thomas Peter/AP hide caption
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with Solomon Islands' Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele after the signing of a joint communique in Beijing establishing diplomatic relations between China and the Solomon Islands. Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption