“Where does that nonsense come from?” he asked.

He stated the treaty was requested by the Solomons and that “we are not pressured in any way by our new friends.”

Sogavare said the Australian media had reported that China had pressured the Solomons to build a military base in Solomon Islands.

“We denied [the story] totally. We don’t know where it came from,” he said.

News of the security treaty was leaked on social media and caused waves of concern in Australia and New Zealand.

“We are insulted by such an unfounded stories and comments,” Sogavare said.