(Central News Agency reporter Qiu Dezhen, Sydney, 23rd) Australian media reported that Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands) National Planning and Development Coordinating Minister Kenny Lowry pointed out that the degree of China’s involvement in Somalia’s police and security affairs will gradually decrease; at the same time, Somalia is committed to restarting its cooperative relationship with Australia and hopes to sign a comprehensive bilateral cooperation treaty with Australia as soon as possible.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that Peter Kenilorea Junior believes there is a need to reduce China’s involvement in Somalia’s police and security affairs. "In my opinion, (China's) involvement in the security field is too high for a small country like the Solomon Islands," he said.
Kenny Lowry is committed to correcting China's over-involvement in Somalia; but he also said that Somalia intends to maintain economic cooperation with China. "I absolutely value the importance of China's investment in (Somali's) economic development," he said.
The report mentioned that the signing of a security agreement between China and Somalia in 2022 has aroused concern in Australia and the international community, fearing that China may establish military bases in the Pacific near the Australian coastline; moreover, the Canberra authorities believe that security and police cooperation partners between Pacific island countries should be limited to other island countries, including Australia.
The report pointed out that in recent years, the Chinese police began to collect the fingerprints of Somali residents and asked them to fill in their household registration information. The report pointed out that the community policing model adopted by the Chinese police for Somalia was derived from the system of mutual monitoring of people in the Mao Zedong era. In this regard, Kenny Lowry once stated when he was a member of Congress last year that he opposed the practices of the Chinese police in Somalia and believed that it was an invasion of privacy.
The report quoted a report issued in May by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, stating that Somalia "has become China's most important police partner in the Pacific region." The report mentioned that police cooperation between Somalia and China includes "(China) providing training, equipment, consultants, and providing high-level political signaling (high-level political signaling) to senior personnel."
The report quoted an unnamed Australian official as saying that Australia is facing a "diplomatic knife fight" from China in the Pacific region; moreover, Australia needs to find ways to counter Beijing's suspected bribery of politicians in many Pacific island countries.
In addition, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit a number of Pacific island countries, including Somalia, in July to strive to strengthen relations between Australia and Pacific island countries; his trip goals include trying to finalize bilateral cooperation agreements between Australia and Fiji and Australia and Vanuatu.
The report mentioned that during his visit to Australia earlier in June, the new Somali Prime Minister Matthew Wale promised to re-evaluate the security agreement with China and repair the relationship between Somalia and Australia. In this regard, Kenny Lowry echoed Val's statement, saying that Somalia will be different from the pro-China tendencies of past governments. The new government is committed to "rebalancing" relations with various development partners.
Kenny Lowry believes that the relationship between the new Somalia government and Australia will be "very positive". He said: "During Prime Minister Val's first visit to Australia, he proposed a 'reset' or 'return to balance' partnership plan; here (Somalia), it is a highly supported plan." Kenny Lowry believes that Somalia and Australia should reach a comprehensive bilateral cooperation treaty "as soon as possible"; he hopes that this treaty will deepen the security relationship between Somalia and Australia, and increase the opportunities for Somali residents to live and work in Australia.
Nileori said: "The next six months are the ideal time for us (Somalia and Australia) to sign a treaty." (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150623
