Solomon Islands Archives

Solomon Islands lawmakers on Thursday elected a pro-China former foreign minister as the country’s new prime minister in a move that is expected to continue the archipelago’s tilt toward Beijing, the Guardian reported. The victor, Jeremiah Manele, oversaw the transition when the Pacific nation severed its...

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The World Briefly

April 30, 2024

A Push Too Far

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands’ pro-China leader withdrew his bid to remain as prime minister two weeks after the country’s national election dealt him significant losses, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. His decision marked the end of an era for the Solomon Islands, where lawmakers will elect a new...

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Need to Know

April 17, 2024

The Cost of Allegiance

Solomon Islands

Parliamentary and local elections in the Solomon Islands on April 17 are yet another example of how domestic politics in Pacific countries have become proxy battles between China and the US. In 2022, three years after he rescinded his country’s recognition of Taiwan, Solomon Islands Prime...

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The World Briefly

July 11, 2023

Changing Orbit

Solomon Islands

China and the Solomon Islands signed a new agreement on police cooperation Monday, the latest deal underscoring the deepening relationship between the two nations amid worries about Beijing’s increasing influence in the Pacific region, Agence France-Presse reported. The new agreement came as Solomon Island Prime Minister...

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Need to Know

October 05, 2022

Little Islands, Big Games

Solomon Islands

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of the Solomon Islands distributed almost $2.5 million to 39 out of 50 lawmakers last year. Sogavare arguably wasn’t spending taxpayers’ money, however. He was doling out cash that China gave him specifically to appropriate at his discretion. Unsurprisingly, some observers in...

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The World Briefly

September 09, 2022

The Imitation Game

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands lawmakers passed a bill Thursday to delay the next year's elections, a move that the opposition called a “power grab” by pro-China Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Al Jazeera reported. The new bill changes the constitution to allow the next general elections to be delayed...

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Need to Know

August 03, 2022

The Bidding War

China Pacific Solomon Islands

American and Chinese ships and planes are more frequently encountering each other in the western Pacific Ocean, according to General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff during a recent visit to Indonesia. “The message is the Chinese military, in the air...

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The World Briefly

April 20, 2022

Formalizing Fear

Solomon Islands

China and the Solomon Islands signed a security pact Tuesday, an agreement that drew the ire of Australia and the United States amid concerns over Beijing increasing its military presence in the Pacific, the Guardian reported. Chinese officials said the deal was signed by the foreign...

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The World Briefly

March 28, 2022

Hedging Bets

Australia China Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands is planning to expand its security partnership with China, amid reports of a potential agreement between the two countries that has raised concerns in neighboring Australia and the United States, CNN reported. The Pacific nation said over the weekend that it was working...

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The World Briefly

March 01, 2022

A Long Reach

Solomon Islands

A group of Chinese police officers began official duties in the Solomon Islands, more than two months after major anti-government protests gripped the Pacific nation, the South China Morning Post reported this week. The police officials said that their role in the country will be to train local...

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