It may be too late to stop China-Solomon Islands treaty, former Australian intelligence chief says

Richard Maude, head of the Office of National Assessments from 2013 to 2016 and an experienced former diplomat, urged the Morrison government not to engage in megaphone diplomacy as it tried to persuade Solomon Islands to change course.

A draft version of an agreement, which emerged online last week, said Solomon Islands may request China to send police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces to the country for a range of tasks such as maintaining social order and protecting lives and property.

The Australian and New Zealand governments have raised concerns the agreement could undermine the security and stability of the Pacific region.

The Australian government has insisted it was not blindsided by the emergence of the draft security agreement.