By Kirsty Needham, and Lucy Craymer

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – The Solomon Islands signing of a security pact to China won’t harm or undermine peace and harmony within the region, Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVER told parliament Wednesday.

Sogavare stated that both foreign ministers had signed the pact, just a day following China’s announcement at its regular news briefing in Beijing.

It comes just days before Kurt Campbell (Indo Pacific Coordinator) arrives in Honiara. This has caused concerns among Canberra over the possible presence of Chinese troops less than 2000 kilometres from Canberra.

New Zealand’s foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, said on Wednesday that New Zealand had made clear to both the Solomon Islands and China its grave concerns at the pact’s potential to destabilise the Pacific region.

Jacinda Adern, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, said that Solomon Islands was violating an agreement made within the Pacific Island Forum for countries to talk about defense matters before they make major decisions.

Ardern said that the Pacific was being militarized and that they continue to urge the Solomons to cooperate with it.

Campbell met Wednesday with Frank Bainimarama of Fiji to discuss security in the region. The U.S. Embassy said that Campbell will travel to Papua New Guinea as well as to Solomon Islands.

Australia, Japan and New Zealand shared their concerns over the Solomon Islands Security pact with China.

Solomon Islands legislators urged Sogavare publicly to disclose the terms and conditions of the security agreement.

Sogavare indicated that the agreement would be made public following a “process” and added that security cooperation with China wasn’t directed against any country or other alliances “rather towards our internal security situation”.

“I appeal to all our friends, neighbours and partners to protect the sovereign interests and security of Solomon Islands,” he stated.

Leaked plans included provisions to allow Chinese police to keep social order and to enable Chinese navy vessels to replenish in Solomon Islands. This alarms Australia.

Sogavare had told parliament that a Chinese military base would be prohibited under the Security Pact. He also said Wednesday that the security agreement allows for protection of infrastructure after November’s riots saw many buildings burnt and people killed.

Opposition Labor has criticised Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison in middle of an election campaign. It was accused of the worst diplomatic failure in Pacific history.

Anthony Albanese, Opposition Labor Leader, stated that “relationships between Australia and Sogavare have clearly broken down”, and that Morrison should have engaged more deeply and for a longer time.

Morrison stated Wednesday that Australia had clearly communicated its position with Sogavare, but it hadn’t yet sent the foreign minister as it didn’t want to give instructions to Pacific islands.

Barnaby Joyce (Deputy Prime Minister), leader of Morrison’s junior coalition partner warned that China might use the security agreement to force for a military base. Joyce declared, “We don’t want to our own little Cuba on our coast.”

Australia provided police support for Honiara (a Pacific island neighbor) under a 2017 bilateral security treaty and an earlier regional mission.

Last week, Sogavare met with Pacific Zed and Australia’s Minister of International Development to ask him to not sign the China pact. On Tuesday night, he made a joint statement expressing disappointment with Australia.