WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Kurt Campbell from the White House Indo-Pacific coordination and State Department’s highest official for Asia are set to travel this week the Solomon Islands. The announcement was made Monday amid fears that China is making a security pact between the Pacific Island nation and China.

The White House National Security Council stated that Campbell and Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of States for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, will be leading a delegation consisting of officials from the Department of Defense as well as representatives of the U.S. Agency for International Development to visit three countries, including the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

It said that the delegation would meet with high-ranking government officials in order to make sure our partnership delivers prosperity, security and peace across both the Pacific Islands (and the Indo-Pacific).” The trip was not scheduled.

The team will also stop in Hawaii to “consult with senior military officials and regional partners at United States Indo-Pacific Command,” it said.

As part of the Biden administration’s efforts to provide more security and diplomatic resources in the Indo-Pacific, the United States declared that it will open an American embassy to Solomon Islands. This was done to combat China’s desire to gain greater control.

In March, the Solomon Islands announced that they were forming a partnership to China in order to address security threats and provide a safe investment environment. This would make Beijing a significant inroad in an area that U.S. allies Australia (and New Zealand) have long considered their “backyard.”

However, after some regional protests, Solomon Islands stated that they would not permit a Chinese military base in the Solomon Islands.

Peter Dutton, Australia’s Defence Minister has stated that China wants to establish a foothold on the Pacific Islands. This includes a “military port” in Papua New Guinea.

China was willing to redevelop a Naval Base in Papua New Guinea, but Australia, Australia’s nearest northern neighbour decided that Australia should develop it.