The head of Australia’s Office of National Intelligence said Canberra is concerned that Chinese police deployed to the Solomon Islands under a new security pact could use “ruthless” techniques previously used to quell protests against the government in Hong Kong.
Andrew Shearer, the director-general of the office, traveled to the Pacific island nation last month in a failed attempt to persuade Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare not to sign a security pact with China.
While details of the pact have not been disclosed, Sogavare has ruled out a military base and said it covers domestic policing.
Shearer told the Raisina Dialogue conference