The people of the South Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands will go to the polls Wednesday in the first general election since the incumbent prime minister cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The presence of China has been looming large in the region and the surrounding countries. And what’s at stake for the Solomon’s election is its relationship with Beijing.
China’s influence can be seen everywhere in the islands. The Solomons hosted an international sports event in 2023. Beijing provided nearly 120 million dollars of funding, accounting for 80 percent of all foreign aid, received for the event. Almost all the facilities, including the main stadium, were built with China’s support. Beijing also deployed police to provide security. Hotels are also being put up with Chinese funding.
The incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China in 2019. Three years later, he signed a security treaty with Beijing.
The move sent shockwaves to countries in the region. Beijing says the security deal is aimed at helping the Solomon Islands maintain social stability, and that China has no intention of building a military base there.
While an NHK crew was visiting the islands, a New Zealand military helicopter suddenly appeared and landed. They came to transport goods for the election, which is seen as a move to maintain the presence of New Zealand amid China’s growing influence.
The United States opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands in February 2023. In December that year, Australia signed a bilateral security pact with neighboring Papua New Guinea.
In the campaign for the election, Sogavare defended stronger ties with China. The prime minister has been critical of those who want to re-establish relations with Taiwan. “To switch our diplomatic relations back to Taiwan… is the most, single-most irresponsible and anti-development policy ever to be announced.”
But China does not have a uniform presence in the Solomons. Taiwan previously provided aid for farming on the island of Malaita. A farmer interviewed by NHK said that since the ties and the aid were cut, he can now only grow half the volume of vegetables he once produced.
Ricky Fuo’o, an opposition candidate, thinks the prime minister is getting too close to China. “Our country is being sold to other people. We don’t want to be jumping into a big debt that even our grandchildren will still be paying for.”
The question is whether Wednesday’s election will lead to a rethink about relations with Beijing.
