One of the Pacific's poorest nations, the Solomon Islands, has become prime diplomatic real estate. Photo: Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS

A Sino-Australian tit-for-tat in Honiara as the two nations try to diplomatically out-muscle one another in the lead-up to this year's Pacific Islands Forum has been described as almost comical.

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Australia is providing 61 security vehicles, road upgrades, cybersecurity support and $3 million in budgetary aid for the annual gathering of regional leaders in the Solomon Islands capital.

China, by comparison, has gifted 27 cars for logistics and basic policing

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