No country should treat Pacific Island countries as backyard: FM

China maintains that when countries develop relations with Pacific Island countries, it is essential to let Pacific Island countries make their own decisions, put development first, and stay open and inclusive. No country should view Pacific Island countries as their "backyard," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday.

Lin made the marks in response to a question about Australia's announcement that it will provide substantial funding to support the police in the Solomon Islands, and that Australian media have expressed concerns about China's police cooperation with the Pacific Island nation.

We hope relevant parties will earnestly respect the independence and sovereignty of Pacific Island countries and not interfere in their internal affairs, Lin told a routine press conference.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australia announced on Friday that it will plough 190 million Australian dollars ($118 million) into the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and set up a new police training center in the capital Honiara.

The new assistance package was unveiled by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra. In a joint statement, Albanese and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the package would provide the Pacific island nation with an "enduring sovereign security capability" and reduce its "reliance on external partners over time," ABC reported.

Although Albanese did not name China directly, ABC claimed that the Australian Prime Minister "suggested the deal would ensure China wouldn't be able to grow its policing and security presence." 

The Australian Financial Review also hyped that the latest move by the federal government sought "to curb China's security ambitions in the Pacific," while Australia's 9News network published a report titled "Australia and Solomon Islands sign $190 million security deal in blow to China."

"This reflects the narrow mind-set of the Australian media, which views the police cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands as an erosion of Australia's influence in this South Pacific island nation," Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Friday.

China-Solomon Islands cooperation is based on equality and mutual benefit, without attaching any political conditions and not targeting any third party, Chen said. "Due to this zero-sum game mentality, the Australian side has distorted the police cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands, demonstrating its desire to exclude China's coordination with other countries in this region."

The expert further emphasized that, particularly in light of the current stabilizing and improving relations between China and Australia, the Australian media should abandon their narrow mind-set. "Australia should recognize that China is a partner rather than a competitor, and China has no intention of participating in any so-called competition with Australia in the South Pacific region. Such a narrow perspective from the Australian side is counterproductive to the advancement of bilateral relations," he said.

According to ABC on Thursday, Australian think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute, known for its critical stance on China, will have its taxpayer funding cut after a sweeping government review of public support for national security research.

"Given the recent improving ties, Australia should collaborate more closely with China and intensify its efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, which not only aligns with the shared interests of both nations but also contributes positively to regional stability, peace, and development," Chen told the Global Times.