The Defence Minister remains sceptical of China’s plans in the Pacific despite assurances it won’t build military ports under a deal with the Solomon Islands. 

Peter Dutton says guarantees from Beijing “aren’t worth much” after similar security-focused deals saw the number of military bases in the South China Sea explode.

“They don’t operate by the same rules as we do,” he told Ray Hadley. “That’s exactly what happened in the South China Sea.

“Assurances were given by President Xi to President Obama at the time that there wouldn’t be military presence.

“Well, there are now 20 islands with runways and military buildings on within the South China Sea.”

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Image: Getty