Richard McGregor is a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute.
The announcement by China and the Solomon Islands in late March that their two governments had concluded a bilateral security agreement has been a teachable moment on multiple fronts.
Opinion
Solomon Islands pact cements China's Pacific power status
Recent controversy is just the first step in a long-running struggle
A display case shows photos outside Chinese Embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on April 2: China is here to stay in the Pacific. © AP
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