Solomon Islands loses sleep over nuclear powered submarines for Australia

Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck says the government is concerned over AUKUS which will see the United Kingdom and the United States of America assist Australia in acquiring nuclear powered submarines. Beck however said Solomon Islands will try to maintain a neutral position in this matter. Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Collin Beck said Solomon Islands is concerned about the implications the nuclear powered submarines will have for Solomon Islands and the Pacific Region. “While we respect Australia’s rights, the implications for us is much more worrying”. Beck said Solomon Islands do not have the capacity to respond to any accidents from any of the nuclear vessels or nuclear submarines. He said in addition the threat of contamination is also serious, which is a perceived threat on the tourism industry. ‘It can also wipe out fisheries as it can also contaminate our seas. If we look at what even happened with the Fukushima plant where disaster struck, even the thought of discharging waste water, already there are concerns about it’. He said this is one thing which they continued to lose sleep over in a sense that this is just happening next door. Solomon Islands recently received a visit from Japan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, HAYASHI Yoshimasa followed by a visit by the US Deputy Secretary to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, Dr. Kurt Campbell.