The Solomon Islands has refused to allow a US Coast Guard cutter to make a routine port call -- a further sign of the deteriorating relations between Washington and the Pacific nation, which is pursuing deeper ties with China.

The USCGC Oliver Henry had been scheduled to make a "routine logistics port call" in Honiara, the Coast Guard said Friday in a statement.

But the Solomons government "did not respond to the US government's request for diplomatic clearance for the vessel to refuel and provision" in the capital city, said the Coast Guard.

The State Department has contacted the Solomons government and expects "all future clearances will be provided to US ships," concluded the brief statement.

The Coast Guard did not say when the expected port call was rejected, but it published a photo of the Oliver Henry arriving in Papua New Guinea on August 14.

It said the cutter was "part of a patrol headed south to assist partner nations in upholding and asserting their sovereignty while protecting US national interests."

The Solomon Islands recently signed a secretive security pact with Beijing and has threatened to ban or deport foreign journalists for "disrespectful and demeaning" coverage.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also has proposed changing the constitution to delay scheduled elections.

The Pacific country switched diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing in 2019.

The Solomons were the scene of the Battle of Guadalcanal, a turning point in World War II.

The brutal seven-month land, sea and air fight between Allied and Japanese forces killed tens of thousands of troops -- most of them Japanese.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Solomon Islands threatens to ban foreign journalists
Honiara (AFP) Aug 25, 2022
The Solomon Islands has threatened to ban or deport foreign journalists for "disrespectful and demeaning" coverage, fuelling concerns about democratic backsliding in the Pacific nation as its alliance with China deepens. In a lengthy statement castigating recent media coverage, the office of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Wednesday accused Western journalists of trying to "engineer regime change". It also accused the media of "containing China and spreading anti-China sentiments", while rai ... read more