Solomon Islands has swapped close regional ties with New Zealand and Australia for a security agreement with China.
China says it will cooperate with Honiara on maintaining social order, protecting people's safety, providing aid, combating natural disasters, and helping safeguard national security.
New Zealand, Australia and the United States worry about the potential it provides for China to establish a military base in the Pacific.
Honiara-based freelance journalist Gina Kekea spoke to Corin Dann.
