CHINA SIGNS SECURITY DEAL WITH SOLOMON ISLANDS, ALARMING NEIGHBORS

SYDNEY — The leader of the Solomon Islands announced Wednesday that his country signed a security agreement with China, just days before a top American official was due to visit the Pacific nation in an attempt to scupper the controversial pact.

The announcement, which follows the leak of a draft of the agreement last month, renewed fear from local opposition leaders as well as Pacific countries including Australia, New Zealand and the United States that the deal could lead to a Chinese military presence in the islands and increase tensions in the region.