[The Solomon Islands has seen rioting and political unrest in recent months. (Photo by= Getty Images)]

Australia says it would be concerned if China signed a pact that could let it establish a military presence in the Solomon Islands. Leaked documents purport to show plans for a security deal between China and the Pacific nation, which lies about 2,000km (1,200 miles) from Australia, BBC reported.
 
The ABC and Reuters report they have verified the draft document as genuine. Australia has long been concerned over Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific, its nearest neighbors.  On Friday, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton denied a suggestion his country had "dropped the ball" in the region.''The leaked papers set out a framework that could allow Beijing to deploy forces to "protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands".

The tiny Pacific nation could also "request China to send police, armed police, military personnel, and other law enforcement and armed forces", according to the document. There is also provision for China to "make ship visits, to carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in the Solomon Islands". The Solomon Islands government has drawn closer to China in recent times, establishing formal diplomatic ties in 2019 and ditching its links with Taiwan. But Australia has traditionally been its main security provider, regional power, and source of financial aid.