The Solomon Islands will review its secret security treaty with China, new Prime Minister Matthew Wale said on Wednesday. The deal was made in 2022 by former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. It made the United States and Australia worry that China could build a navy base in the South Pacific.

Wale said he got a copy of the treaty only a few days ago. He said he had “removed certain people from key positions” before that. He also said, “I haven’t had a good look at it. I’ve had a look at it.”

Wale is in Australia on his first trip abroad as leader of the country of 700,000 people. He and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said their governments will talk about a new treaty on security and the economy. Albanese said Australia should be the main security partner for the Solomon Islands, not China.

China said it is ready to work with the new Solomon Islands government. The Solomon Islands do not have an army, so police have a bigger role in security. The country changed its official support from Taiwan to China in 2019.