5.2 Earthquake - Solomon Sea, Honiara

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea near Mbanika Island island, Solomon Islands, in the evening at 8.48 pm local time (Pacific/Guadalcanal GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

5.8 Earthquake - 44 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit 44 km (27 mi) away from Kirakira, Makira-Ulawa
Province, Solomon Islands, in the early morning at 2.03 am local time (Pacific/Guadalcanal GMT +11). The quake had a shallow depth of 48 km (30 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

6.3 Earthquake - Coral Sea, 214 km southeast of Uki Ni Massi Island, Solomon Islands

"A very strong magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea 107 km (66 mi) from
Solomon Islands in the early morning at 1.27 am local time (GMT +11). The quake had a very shallow depth of 8.7 km (5.4 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

6.0 Earthquake - 110 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea near the coast of Solomon Islands in the early morning at 3.42 am local time (GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.
The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

5.7 Earthquake - Coral Sea, 40 km southwest of Utupua Island, Solomon Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea near Utupua island, Solomon Islands, in the early morning at 6.23 am local time (GMT +11). The quake had a shallow depth of 40 km (25 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

5.1 Earthquake - Solomon Sea, 60 km west of Honiara, Honiara, Solomon Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea near Mbanika Island island,
Solomon Islands, in the early afternoon at 2.12 pm local time (Pacific/Guadalcanal GMT +11). The quake had a very shallow depth of 12.6 km (8 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

Earthquake - Coral Sea, 242 km southeast of Uki Ni Massi Island, Solomon Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea 134 km (83 mi) from Solomon
Islands in the evening at 8.18 pm local time (GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow." VD

Very strong mag. 6.0 Earthquake - 197 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea 74 km (46 mi) from

Vanuatu in the morning at 10.28 am local time (GMT +11). The quake had a shallow depth of 54 km (34 mi). According to preliminary estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake might have been felt by over 30,300 people across 2 countries: Solomon Islands (21,300) and Vanuatu (8,920)." VD

Strong mag. 5.1 Earthquake - Santa Cruz Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea 85 km (53 mi) from Solomon Islands late in the evening at 11.46 pm local time (GMT +11). The quake had a moderate depth of 74 km (46 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

Japan deploys MSDF fleet to Indo-Pacific with eye on China

"Japan has dispatched a Maritime Self-Defense Force flotilla on a deployment to 11 Indo-
Pacific countries and one foreign territory as part of joint naval exercises with the United States and other countries undertaken to counter a more assertive China.

In the annual deployment that will run to Oct 28, the MSDF fleet will make port calls in the Pacific island nations of the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Fiji for the first time, according to the Defense Ministry.

The fleet will also take part in the Rim of the Pacific exercise -- the world's largest multinational naval exercise -- the Pacific Vanguard exercise involving Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea, and other drills, the ministry said." JapanTimes

Australian PM Ratchets Up Tensions With Claim to 'Ensure' No Chinese Base in the Solomon Islands

"Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison raised eyebrows Sunday when he insisted his

administration will “ensure” that no Chinese military base is constructed in the Solomon Islands–an unlikely scenario which Morrison nonetheless insists is a “red line” that its neighbor, the Solomon Islands, must not cross.

He later said it would be “unwise” to explain what, exactly, Australia would do to prevent such a prospect. The remarks came during a debate in which both the ruling Liberal Party PM and his Labor Party challenger repeatedly accused each other of being insufficiently hawkish towards China. Labor leader Anthony Albanese declared that Morrison’s failure to prevent China and the Solomon Islands from signing a bilateral cooperation treaty constituted a “massive foreign policy failure.” Sputnik

US, Allies Huddle to Strategise Pacific Stakes as China Fills Security Gaps in Solomon Islands

"China announced the signing of a security pact with the Solomon Islands on Tuesday amid
serious concerns raised by the US and its allies. But the Islands assured other Pacific nations that the agreement would not hamper regional security dynamics.

White House National Security Council Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell and other senior officials convened a meeting in Honolulu with the naval command and senior officials from Australia, Japan, and New Zealand on developments in the Pacific Islands." Sputnik

New Zealand ‘Gravely Concerned’ by Chinese Military Deal with Solomon Islands

"New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on Monday her
government was “gravely” concerned by the Solomon Islands’ recent confirmation it signed a security pact with China.

The government of the Solomon Islands announced on March 25 it finalized a military agreement with Beijing. What appeared to be a draft of the pact allegedly leaked online on March 25 and was referenced by RNZ on March 28 when the public broadcaster interviewed Ardern." Breitbart

Aussie Commentator Calls For Solomon Islands to Be Invaded Over Security Deal With China

"An Australian commentator has called upon Canberra to “invade” the Solomon Islands
before the Pacific nation seals its security agreement with China. “There is no way that Australia can allow this deal to proceed,” David Llewellyn-Smith, founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness, wrote in a column published on Friday.

The bilateral “security cooperation” pact in question envisages Chinese vessels carrying out “logistical replenishments”, “stopovers” and “transition” in the Pacific nation, according to a leaked draft of the security agreement.

It also states that “relevant forces of China can be used to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects” on the Solomon Islands." Sputnik

 

Washington "Alarmed" As Beijing Nears Sweeping Security Pact With Solomon Islands

"Weeks after China's foreign minister cautioned the US against trying to form a "Pacific NATO" - a veiled reference to the growing national security orientation of "the Quad" (a security and economic cooperation alliance involving the US, Australia, India and Japan) - Beijing has reportedly reached a deal with the Solomon Islands to station Chinese military and police personnel on the island, dramatically altering the balance of military power in the Pacific, and potentially re-orienting the small island nation toward Beijing, and away from Washington and Canberra.Weeks after China's foreign minister cautioned the US against trying to form a "Pacific NATO" - a veiled reference to the growing national security orientation of "the Quad" (a security and economic cooperation alliance involving the US, Australia, India and Japan) - Beijing has reportedly reached a deal with the Solomon Islands to station Chinese military and police personnel on the island, dramatically altering the balance of military power in the Pacific, and potentially re-orienting the small island nation toward Beijing, and away from Washington and Canberra." ZH