The Solomon Islands will not allow China to place a military base on its territory, giving priority to a security partnership with Australia, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare told the Canadian TV channel BNN Bloomberg.

According to Sogavare, there will be no permanent foreign military presence in the country.

The state signed a security pact with China in April, raising concerns in Canberra and Washington about Beijing's motives in the region. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the country has no intention of building a military base in the Solomon Islands.

China's only foreign military base is currently located in Djibouti. The African state's close proximity to the Middle East region, as well as its importance in energy transit routes, make the country a significant location - after China established a military base, Djibouti became a focal point for some Western countries.