Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare is adamant there will not be a Chinese military base, facility or institution of any kind established in his country, saying a base would not be in its interests and there should not be one anywhere in the Pacific.
Sogavare has been the focus of regional diplomatic conversations over the past few months after his decision to enter into a security deal with China earlier this year sent alarm bells ringing across the Pacific.
In a rare interview with RNZ Pacific ahead of the final leaders meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Sogavare outlined the message he has been reiterating this week to his Pacific counterparts including the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand.
