The Japanese government has sent a senior official to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific to convey concerns over the island nation's security agreement with China.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Uesugi Kentaro met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. He told Sogavare that Japan will pay close attention to the potential impact of the agreement on security issues in the Pacific region.

The Solomon Islands and China announced last week that they signed an agreement on security cooperation. China said the two countries will cooperate on matters including maintaining social order, humanitarian assistance and combating natural disasters.

Last week, high-ranking US officials also visited the Solomon Islands and warned that their country would respond if steps were taken for China to establish a permanent military presence in the island nation.
Australia and New Zealand have voiced concerns as well.