The draft security cooperation agreement between China and Solomon Islands has been linked on social media and raises a lot of questions (and concerns). (photos of agreement in this and below tweet) 1/6 https://t.co/nnpnJJQC7r

With Parliament due to sit in Honiara (and the existing security concerns which led to a RPNGC deployment to Solomons) it will be interesting to see whether the agreement is raised by the Opposition. 2/6 https://t.co/pQ96MFHLi2

Article 1 refers to police, armed police, and military as well as “other law enforcement and armed forces”. What is the distinction betwen police and armed police? Is this a ref to PAP? Who are the other law enforcement and armed forces? What are the "other tasks"? 3/6

Article 1 refs China's "own needs". What are these needs (strategic interests?) and what if they cut across Solomon Islands' interests or the interests of Solomon Islands' key partners such as Australia or PNG? 4/6

Article 1 states China may, according to its own needs & with the consent of the SIG make ship visits to, carry out logistical replenishment in, & have stopover and transition in Solomons. This suggests logistics/supplies will be available in Solomons to support PLAN. A base? 5/6

Article 5 of the security cooperation agreement refers to "confidentiality" and raises questions about the degree to which the parties will seek to control public information = controlling the political narrative. END 6/6

**It's important to state the authenticity of this document still needs to be verified.If it is authentic, it is deeply concerning.If it isn't authentic, it still provides some interesting insights into how geopolitical dynamics are playing out domestically in Solomon Islands.**