Paul Murphy: Urges Condemnation of US Threats to Solomon Islands
Paul Murphy urged the Taoiseach to publicly condemn US threats against the Solomon Islands after the Pacific state signed a security deal with China. He argued the Solomon Islands is a sovereign government and said threats of military action are unacceptable.
Call for condemnation
Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to make a clear statement criticising and condemning the United States for threats made towards the Solomon Islands over its security arrangement with China.
Sovereignty and stance on China
He said that while he and others are not friends of the authoritarian Chinese regime and would not recommend a Chinese military presence, the decision is one for the sovereign government of the Solomon Islands.
Ambassador's warning and military concern
Murphy highlighted the US ambassador's comment that, although the US respected Solomon Islands sovereignty, it would have "significant concerns" and would "very naturally respond" if a de facto permanent military presence were established. He noted the ambassador refused to rule out military action.
Comparison with Ukraine and authoritarian regimes
In the course of the debate Murphy referenced the wider international picture, noting the war in Ukraine and comments about authoritarian states undermining democracy. He said the world is becoming more dangerous because of regimes that do not submit to regular elections and contrasted those dynamics with the Solomon Islands situation.
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Thanks, Keane Corle. Taoiseach, I want to ask you to make a very clear statement of criticism and condemnation of the US for its threats against the Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands has done a security deal with China, which could allow China to establish a military base in that country. Obviously, we are no friends of the authoritarian Chinese regime. We don't recommend such a course, but very clearly it's a choice of a sovereign government. The response of the US has been to say, to quote the ambassador, of course we have respect for the Solomon Islands in sovereignty, but we also wanted to let them know that if steps were taken to establish a de facto permanent military presence, then we would have significant concerns and we would very naturally respond to those concerns. When asked whether that could include military action, the ambassador refused to rule out military action. So you have the biggest imperialist global superpower on earth, threatening a very small country, less than a million people saying, if they do not make decisions in line with their interests then they could face military action. To me, the United States, and I would agree with Deputy Hawi in relation to this, I think Deputy Biden is correct when he identifies a growing number of authoritarian regimes who are out to undermine democracy. I don't believe America is out to undermine democracy. I don't see America as an imperial power in the sense that you do. I think in the middle of a war where the Russian Federation has launched a very immoral and unjustifiable war on the Ukraine, the US is doing everything it possibly can to defend the people of Ukraine and to give measured and balanced leadership in respect of that. The courts have taken their decision in relation to the two gentlemen that you referred to, Deputy Boyd Barrett. And in terms of the Solomon Islands, I mean, again, I think you've outlined, Deputy Murphy, your distaste for the Chinese authorities in getting a presence there. And again, it's a far cry from what's going on in the Ukraine. And from our perspective, I think that the world is becoming a more dangerous place because of the work of authoritarian regimes who do not subject themselves to elections on a regular basis. And I think, that's what we're saying. Why is the problem? So, let's say, don't you lose your mind in the Ukraine. I think they're common to think of what you're not talking about. I think it's important to think of what the Chinese authorities are doing. I'm the human that I'm concerned in the Ukraine. I think, that's what I'm saying. I could never say. I hate this one. I'm not even saying that the Mediterranean side of this country, which I put out here. I know that there are the United States that I've spoken about right now. So, I think that we're not saying that the Western countries' organization that you're not going into in the Ukraine. So, I think that there's another thing.
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