Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare shrugged off warnings from Oz and its allies about the new security deal with China, telling parliament that he signed it with his “eyes wide open.” The agreement – which opens the door to the Chinese military to be in the southwest Pacific more frequently – was signed on Tuesday night and announced by China, just a week after Senator Zed Seselja made an emergency mission to the nation to plead Australia’s case against signed. Labor has labelled it the “worst foreign policy blunder in the Pacific” that Oz has seen since the end of World War 2, a criticism PM Scott Morrison rejected yesterday. “What it highlights is there is always incredible pressure on Pacific nations that comes from China seeking to undermine the security of the region,” adding “we know the risks, we can’t always prevent them.” Senior US Diplomat Kurt Campbell met officials from Oz, Japan and NZ in Hawaii yesterday to discuss the “serious risks” posed by the agreement to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He is due to arrive in the Solomons in the coming days.

It’s all happening, and this week Squiz Shortcuts has your back with a look at the close relationship between Russia and China, and their unprecedented ‘no-limits’ pact. You’re welcome.