China–Solomon Islands relations

Last updated

China–Solomon Islands relations
China Solomon Islands Locator.png
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China 		Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Solomon Islands
Envoy
His Excellency Ambassador Cai Weiming Ambassador Barrett Salato

Solomon Islands and the People's Republic of China established official diplomatic relations in 2019. Prior to this, Solomon Islands had diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, otherwise known as Taiwan.

Contents

Since December 2023, the ambassador of China to Solomon Islands is Cai Weiming. [1] [2] As of 28 December 2023, the ambassador of Solomon Islands to China is Barrett Salato. [3]

History

Solomon Islands, formerly the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, gained its independence in 1978 and became known as Solomon Islands.

Five years later, in 1983, Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC) which it maintained until 2019 when Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare severed the 36-year relationship with the Taiwanese government and began official recognition and diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). [4] The Guardian and national newspaper the Solomon Star reported that Solomon Islands MPs had claimed both the PRC and ROC had offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to them, to influence the politics in their favour. [5] [6] A series of demonstrations and violent riots followed the government's decision leading to a 36-hour lockdown in the capital, a number of buildings were burnt down, and the deployment of police. [7] [8] [9] Deakin University Professor Matthew Clarke deemed the switch an important step for China's Belt and Road Initiative goals. [4]

In 2006, riots in the Solomon Islands resulted in the destruction of more than 60 Chinese-owned shops and prompted the Chinese government to evacuate 310 Chinese citizens. [10] : 79 

Contemporary relations

Lease of Tulagi

In September 2019, Chinese state-owned conglomerate China Sam Enterprise Group secretly signed a lease agreement with the Tulagi provincial government for exclusive rights to the entire island. A shock to residents of the province, leaked details of the agreement revealed provisions for a fishery base, operations centre, an airport, and an oil and gas terminal. [11] [12] A month later, the Solomon Islands attorney general overturned the agreement, citing trespass on national government powers, the failure of China Sam to register as a foreign investor, and the lack of vital details including a timeline. [12]

Security pact

In March 2022, China and the Solomon Islands signed a draft security pact that, according to leaked photos, allows Honiara to ask Beijing to send in law enforcement and military personnel to the Solomon Islands to assist in "maintaining social order" or "protecting people's lives and property". [13] [14] The deal also permits Chinese ships to conduct replenish and stopover in the Solomon Islands and to use the "relevant forces of China" to "protect the safety of Chinese personnel and other major projects in Solomon Islands" and to allow for aerial surveillance of the Pacific islands and Australia. [15]

The government of the Solomon Islands announced the agreement was part of an effort to "respond to Solomon Islands' soft and hard domestic threats" as part of the nation's national security strategy, referring to the violent 2021 Solomon Islands unrest over the Prime Minister's decision to switch recognition from the ROC to the PRC. [9] The Australian government, being both a neighbour of the Solomon Islands and a strategic rival to China, voiced great concern over this development. [16] Particularly, Australia and some of its allies including New Zealand were concerned that this might be the start of permanent Chinese military bases being placed near Australia. [17] [18] Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the pact was "a reminder of the constant pressure and threats that present in our region to our own national security". [19] Similar, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed concern that the security pact would lead to the militarisation of the South Pacific. [18]

Visit by Wang Yi

In May 2022, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Solomon Islands as his first stop of a ten-nation tour in the Pacific. With only select media allowed to cover the event, the Media Association of Solomon Islands boycotted in protest. [20] Yi's visit, part of an effort to sign a sweeping security and economic agreement with each of the small Pacific nations, was described by Solomon Islands Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jermiah Manele as a "milestone in the relations" between Solomon Islands and PRC. [21] [22]

Deal with Huawei

In August 2022, the government of Solomon Islands accepted a $66 million (USD) loan from the People's Republic of China to have Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei construct 161 mobile phone towers in Solomon Islands, celebrated as "a historic financial partnership". [23] [24] Previously, in 2018, Solomon Islands awarded Huawei a contract to build a telecommunications cable network prompting the Australian government to intervene. [24] The government of Solomon Islands claimed it hoped to repay the loan within 11 years, however this loan and the Chinese issued Tina Hydro Project loan raised the Solomon Islands national debt from 15% of GDP to 30%. A 2019 Central Bank of Solomon Islands report prior to the loan warned that the country didn't have the capacity to take further loans from the PRC. [24] In October, Opposition leader Matthew Wale urged the government to scrap the loans and claimed that they were paying for technology that will be obsolete far before the government pays off the loan. Wales also asked the government to publish a report by consulting firm KPMG which highlights Huawei's entitlement to 50% of revenue over ten years. [25]

Other activity

In August 2022, Solomon Islands turned away a U.S. Coast Guard ship and British Royal Navy ship claiming to have placed a moratorium on all foreign military ships pending further review, raising fears that Solomon Islands was turning away from western nations in favour of China. [26]

China offered money for Daniel Suidani's life treatment if he stopped opposing Chinese operations in Malatia. Suidani refused and eventually was treated by Taiwan. [27] Hon. Matthew Wale, leader of the opposition was dismayed by this. [28]

2024 elections in the Solomon Islands and implications

Cleo Paskal of The National Interest reflected that the elections in the Solomon Islands will have major strategic implications in the struggle between the United States and China over influence in the Pasific. [27] According to The National Interest, Solomon Islanders voted for change yet due to Solomon Islands' political structure, politicans sympathetic to China assumed power. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of China</span>

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), has full diplomatic relations with 180 out of the other 192 United Nations member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. As of 2024, China has had the most diplomatic missions of any state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Taiwan</span> Overview of the foreign relations of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Foreign relations of the Republic of China (ROC), more commonly known as Taiwan, are accomplished by efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, a cabinet-level ministry of the Government of the Republic of China. It currently has formal diplomatic relations with 11 of the 193 United Nations member states and with the Holy See, which governs the Vatican City State, as of 16 May 2024. In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations with 59 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories (Guam, Hong Kong, and Macau), and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates. In 2021, the Government of the Republic of China had the 33rd largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Solomon Islands</span>

The foreign policy of Solomon Islands as of 2008 was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manasseh Sogavare</span> Former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands

Manasseh Damukana Sogavare is a Solomon Islander politician serving as Minister of Finance since 2024. He served as the prime minister of Solomon Islands for a total of nine years from 2000–2001, 2006–2007, 2014–2017, and 2019–2024. Sogavare has served in the National Parliament representing East Choiseul since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–China relations</span> Bilateral relations

Consular relations between China and Australia were first established in 1909, and diplomatic relations were established in 1941. Australia continued to recognise the Republic of China (ROC) government after it lost the Chinese Civil War and retreated to Taiwan in 1949, but switched recognition to the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 21 December 1972. Chinese Australians have been a significant minority group in the country since the Qing dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Japan relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Japan relations or Sino-Japanese relations are the bilateral relations between China and Japan. The countries are geographically separated by the East China Sea. Japan has been strongly influenced throughout its history by China, especially by the East and Southeast through the gradual process of Sinicization with its language, architecture, culture, cuisine, religion, philosophy, and law. When Japan was forced to open trade relations with the West after the Perry Expedition in the mid-19th century, Japan plunged itself through an active process of Westernization during the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and began viewing China under the Qing dynasty as an antiquated civilization unable to defend itself against foreign forces—in part due to the First and Second Opium Wars along with the Eight-Nation Alliance's involvement in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion. Japan eventually took advantage of such weaknesses by invading China, including the First Sino-Japanese War and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sino-Pacific relations</span> Diplomatic competition between Mainland China and Taiwan in the Pacific

Oceania is, to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, a stage for continuous diplomatic competition. The PRC dictates that no state can have diplomatic relations with both the PRC and the ROC. As of 2024, eleven states in Oceania have diplomatic relations with the PRC, and three have diplomatic relations with the ROC. These numbers fluctuate as Pacific Island nations re-evaluate their foreign policies, and occasionally shift diplomatic recognition between Beijing and Taipei. The issue of which "Chinese" government to recognize has become a central theme in the elections of numerous Pacific island nations, and has led to several votes of no-confidence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–New Zealand relations</span> Bilateral relations

The China–New Zealand relations, sometimes known as Sino–New Zealand relations, are the relations between China and New Zealand. New Zealand recognised the Republic of China after it lost the Chinese Civil War and retreated to Taiwan in 1949, but switched recognition to the People's Republic of China on 22 December 1972. Since then, economic, cultural, and political relations between the two countries have grown over the past four decades. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner in goods and second largest trading partner in services. In 2008, New Zealand became the first developed country to enter into a free trade agreement with China. In recent years, New Zealand's extensive economic relations with China have been complicated by its security ties to the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Fiji relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Republic of the Fiji Islands was the first Pacific Island country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, in 1975. China established an embassy in Fiji in 1976, and Fiji opened its embassy in China in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Papua New Guinea relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Independent State of Papua New Guinea and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1976, soon after Papua New Guinea became independent. The two countries currently maintain diplomatic, economic and, to a lesser degree, military relations. Relations are cordial; China is a significant provider of both investments and development aid to Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Tonga relations</span> Bilateral relations

Tonga and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1998. The two countries maintain cordial diplomatic, economic, and military relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Vanuatu relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Republic of Vanuatu and the People's Republic of China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations on March 26, 1982. China established an embassy in Vanuatu in 1989, while Vanuatu established an honorary consulate in China in 1999; it officially became an embassy in 2005. The current Ambassador of China in Vanuatu is Liu Quan. The current Ambassador of Vanuatu in China is former Minister of Finance Willie Jimmy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</span> Strategic dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), commonly known as the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the United States that is maintained by talks between member countries. The dialogue was initiated in 2007 by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the support of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. The dialogue was paralleled by joint military exercises of an unprecedented scale, titled Exercise Malabar. The diplomatic and military arrangement was widely viewed as a response to increased Chinese economic and military power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–Taiwan relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of China, formerly the Qing dynasty, date back to 1909. Since 1972, the political status and legal status of Taiwan have been contentious issues. Australia and Taiwan share partnership in the inter-governmental Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–Solomon Islands relations</span> Bilateral relations

Foreign relations exist between Australia and Solomon Islands. Australia has a High Commission in Honiara and Solomon Islands has a High Commission in Canberra. The two countries are members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Islands–Taiwan relations</span> Bilateral relations

Solomon Islands no longer has official diplomatic ties with Taiwan (ROC) due to the One-China policy since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Suidani</span> Solomon Islands politician

Daniel Suidani is a Solomon Islands politician who served as the Premier of Malaita Province from June 2019 until his ouster in a no confidence vote in February 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AUKUS</span> Australia–UK–US security partnership

AUKUS, also styled as Aukus, is a trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Announced on 15 September 2021, the partnership involves the US and the UK assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. The partnership also includes cooperation on advanced cyber mechanisms, artificial intelligence and autonomy, quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic, electronic warfare, innovation and information sharing. The partnership will focus on military capability, distinguishing it from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance that also includes New Zealand and Canada.

The 2021 Solomon Islands unrest was a series of demonstrations and violent riots in Solomon Islands from 24 to 27 November 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Solomon Islands general election</span>

General elections were held in Solomon Islands on 17 April 2024 to determine the composition of the 12th Parliament. Initially planned for 2023, parliament voted in 2022 to delay the elections. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare claimed the country could not afford to have an election in the same year the Solomon Islands were hosting the Pacific Games. The opposition condemned the delay and accused Sogavare of a power grab.

References

  1. ↑ "大使致辞" [Ambassador's speech]. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Solomon Islands (in Chinese). 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. ↑ admi, ids (13 December 2023). "New Chinese ambassador pledges to promote relations". In-depth Solomons. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Ambassador Barrett Salato presents copy of Credentials to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Solomon Islands Government. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 Cavanough, Edward (7 December 2019). "When China came calling: inside the Solomon Islands switch". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Saeni, Wilson (12 July 2021). "Pro-China MPs' $1m attempt to bribe Malaita Premier fails". Solomon Star. Auki. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Cavanough, Edward (7 December 2019). "China and Taiwan offered us huge bribes, say Solomon Islands MPs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Solomon Islands police find three bodies after violent protests". Shropshire Star . Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Three bodies found after days of unrest in Solomon Islands". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Police use tear gas in Solomon Islands – Taipei Times". Taipei Times . 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  10. ↑ Meng, Wenting (2024). Developmental Peace: Theorizing China's Approach to International Peacebuilding. Ibidem. Columbia University Press. ISBN   9783838219073.
  11. ↑ Cave, Damien (16 October 2019). "China Is Leasing an Entire Pacific Island. Its Residents Are Shocked". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  12. 1 2 Cave, Damien (24 October 2022). "Chinese Lease of Entire Island Is Deemed Illegal in Solomons". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "Solomon Islands signs China pact, defying Australia". Taipei Times. 20 April 2022. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Kim, Patricia M. (6 May 2022). "Does the China-Solomon Islands security pact portend a more interventionist Beijing?". Brookings Institution. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  15. ↑ Dr. Anna Powles [@annapowles] (24 March 2022). "The draft security cooperation agreement between China and Solomon Islands has been linked on social media and raises a lot of questions (and concerns). (photos of agreement in this and below tweet)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ McKeith, Sam. "'Great concern' over China-Solomon Islands deal: Australia PM". MSN. Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  17. ↑ McCarthy, Simone; Yee, Lizzy (25 March 2022). "Solomon Islands reassures Australia as it works on China security deal". MSN. CNN. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  18. 1 2 "Pacific tensions: NZ raising concerns with China, Australia 'freaking out' over Solomon Islands". The New Zealand Herald . 28 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "China, Solomons ink draft of controversial security pact". Associated Press . 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  20. ↑ Perry, Nick (26 May 2022). "China's foreign minister starts Pacific tour in the Solomons". Associated Press . Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  21. ↑ "China's Foreign Minister Starts Pacific Tour in Solomons". Voice of America . Associated Press. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  22. ↑ "China says it has 'no intention' of building military base in Solomon Islands, Penny Wong visits Fiji as part of Pacific reset". ABC News (Australia) . 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "Solomon Islands Secures $66 Mn Chinese Loan For Huawei Deal". Barron's . Agence France-Presse. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  24. 1 2 3 Kekea, Georgina (18 August 2022). "Solomon Islands secures $100m China loan to build Huawei mobile towers in historic step". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  25. ↑ "Wale calls on gov't to publish KPMG report on Huawei towers project". Solomon Star . 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Wong, Edward (30 August 2022). "Solomon Islands Suspends Visits by Foreign Military Ships, Raising Concerns in the U.S." The New York Times . Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  27. 1 2 3 Cleo Paskal, Grant Newsham (13 May 2024). "How China is Winning the Solomon Islands". The National Interest. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Wale Condemns Politicization of Premier Suidani's Health - Solomon Times Online". SolomonTimes.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.