Australian opposition party vows to train Pacific armies

In response to China's potential military presence in the Solomon Islands, Australia's opposition party has promised to establish a Pacific defense school to train neighbouring armies.

Australia's opposition party promised to establish a Pacific defense school to train neighbouring armies in response to China's potential military presence on the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.

The school was among a range of measures that the centre-left Labour Party has promised to increase Australia's engagement in its region if the opposition wins elections on May 21.

Labour has criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative government over a security pact announced last week between China and the Solomon Islands.

Australia and the United States fear the deal could result in a Chinese naval presence less than 2,000 kilometres from the northeast Australian coast.

There are also concerns that other Pacific island countries financially weakened by the pandemic and its impact on tourism could be lured by China into similar deals.

Labor foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong said Australia needed to restore its place as the partner of choice in the Pacific region.