'China pact not end of Canberra treaty'

SYDNEY: Australia's foreign minister said on Sunday a controversial security deal between the Solomon Islands and China would not spell the end of her country's defense cooperation with the Pacific nation.

Marise Payne told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that an existing bilateral security treaty between Australia and the Solomons would continue, even if the nation ignored entreaties from Canberra and signed a security pact with China.