New Zealand has spoken out strongly about a possible security deal between China and Solomon Islands.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said such an arrangement could destabilise the Pacific’s security and would not benefit the region.

Details of the deal between China and Pacific Island nation emerged on Thursday evening, with a purported draft copy of the arrangement showing Solomon Islands could provide China’s military access to the country for “its own needs”, such as replenishing ships and protecting personnel.

The prospect of a military base being constructed in the Pacific has worried officials in Wellington, who warned in December that such as move would be a “most threatening” development that would “fundamentally alter the strategic balance of the region”.

Mahuta said if the document was genuine, “this agreement would be very concerning”.

“Such agreements will always be the right of any sovereign country to enter into, however, developments within this purported agreement could destabilise the current institutions and arrangements that have long underpinned the Pacific region’s security,” she said in a statement on Friday.

“This would not benefit New Zealand or our Pacific neighbours.

“New Zealand’s High Commissioner in Honiara is raising our concerns with the Solomon Islands Government, and we will also be raising our concerns directly with China.”

The Solomon Islands Government’s increasingly close relationship with China has caused domestic unrest.

In December, New Zealand joined Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji in sending Defence Force and police personnel to Solomon Islands to help restore order after rioting in the capital, Honiara.

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The violence had been sparked amid protests against the government, for reasons including economic issues and the government’s decision to diplomatically recognise China instead of Taiwan in 2019.

On Thursday, the Solomon Islands Government announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding on policing cooperation with Beijing.

Solomon Islands Minister for Police Anthony Veke said the signing showed “the global community that we are here building meaningful cooperation, one that is based on teamwork and seriousness to develop Solomon Islands”.

Images of a draft copy of the broader security agreement were published online by Dr Anna Powles, a Massey University expert in Pacific security, on Thursday evening. Powles has been contacted for comment.

The agreement, which Australian officials had verified as legitimate, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, would allow Solomon Islands to request support from China’s “police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces” to maintain social order and provide humanitarian assistance.

“China may, according to its own need and with the consent of Solomon Islands, make ship visits, carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands, and the relevant forces of China can be used to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands.”

The document included a confidentiality clause saying “neither party shall disclose the cooperation information to a third party” unless written consent was obtained.

Mahuta, in her statement, said New Zealand encouraged countries in the Pacific to be “transparent with their actions and intentions”, and assistance provided to countries should be targetted and support regional security.

The minister declined an interview request. Mahuta will travel to Fiji on Monday.

China’s embassy in Wellington has been contacted for comment.

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