https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ease-an-islandSolomons' government vetoes Chinese attempt to lease an island
A Chinese company’s attempt to lease an entire island in the
Solomon Islandswas unlawful and will not be allowed to go ahead, the Pacific archipelago’s government has announced.
The deal between the Solomons’ Central Province and the state-owned
ChinaSam Group was “unlawful, unenforceable and must be terminated with immediate effect”, prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s office said in a statement.
It said the provincial government did not have the power to negotiate the agreement for Tulagi island, which has the type of deep-water harbour coveted by the military. In addition, it said China Sam did not have foreign investor status in the Solomons and no deal could be finalised without the approval of attorney-general John Muria.........