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Examining the Influence of China in the Pacific as the Solomon Islands Prepare for Elections

The influence of China in the Pacific is being examined as ally Solomon Islands prepares for elections this month, with two candidates indicating they would seek to revise a controversial security pact between the two countries.

China's ties with Solomon Islands have deepened under Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who hopes to secure another term in the April 17th vote. Solomon Islands, one of the poorest countries in the Pacific, relies heavily on partners such as Australia and China for aid and development support. Beijing's assistance ranges from infrastructure development to medical, police, and security support.

In 2019, Solomon Islands severed ties with Taiwan to recognize China and three years later signed a security pact with Beijing. The move raised concerns in the West about China's ambitions in the Pacific region.

Candidates in Favor of Revising the Agreement

Two more candidates considering the position of prime minister, Peter Kenilorea Jr, the leader of the United Party (UP), and Gordon Darcy Lilo, who leads the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (Sipra) and is a former prime minister, say they would revise the agreement.

"Solomon Islands has been caught up in the growing geopolitical competition between China and the United States and its allies," says Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka from the University of Hawaii.

"These global powers have a personal interest in the outcome of this election."

Look North Strategy

Solomon Islands, with a population of around 700,000 people, faces a series of urgent domestic issues such as a weakened health and education system and underdeveloped infrastructure. As in other countries around the world, the pressures on the cost of living are a prominent issue in this election, along with the government's ability to assist through development partners.

Prime Minister Sogavare's Look North strategy has been a central theme of his campaign. He adopted this policy in 2008 with the aim of strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for developmental purposes. The security pact with China is part of this strategy.

Sogavare is running as part of the OUR party coalition, which is committed to the Look North policy as well as prioritizing defense, security, and trade. He has emphasized strengthening ties with China while maintaining relationships with traditional partners like Australia.

The Pacific Games, which Solomon Islands will host in 2023, highlighted Beijing's support to the nation. China funded much of the Games and built facilities, notably a national stadium in Honiara.

At the launch of the OUR party's campaign this year, Sogavare said establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing in 2019 was "crucial" for the country. He said China's support with the Pacific Games and other infrastructure developments "helps put our country on a more favorable footing, both domestically and internationally."

"We are not at war with anyone"

Four candidates will challenge Sogavare for his parliamentary seat. In Solomon Islands, there is no direct vote for the prime minister. Voters cast their vote for members of Parliament and as the results become known, candidates will attempt to form a governing coalition. Members of Parliament will then vote to appoint a prime minister.

Mathew Wale of the Coalition for Responsibility and Empowerment (Care) party joins UP's Kenilorea Jr and Sipra's Lilo in seeking the top position.

Kenilorea Jr says while he supports the economic development aspects of the Look North policy, he has concerns about the security pact.

"Security issues need to be less ambiguous and much clearer," he tells The Guardian newspaper.

As the details of the security agreement with China have never been made public, Kenilorea Jr says UP will reveal the terms of the agreement. Kenilorea Jr tells The Guardian that he will review the security pact and seek to have ties with both Taiwan and Beijing.

"We need both as development partners," he says.

Kenilorea Jr also says he will engage more with traditional partners, including Australia. The country needs true teamwork that eliminates the notion of a "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" approach, says Kenilorea Jr.

Care, while supporting the Look North strategy, says it will maintain relationships with traditional partners, including Australia.

Sipra's platform focuses on domestic and foreign policy reforms, addressing corruption, and maintaining support for traditional partners.

"We already have our existing regional security partners such as Australia and New Zealand. We must leverage this agreement and make good use of it. We are not at war with anyone. All we need is our economic security," says Lilo.

Both Wale and Lilo call for more transparency regarding the security pact with China.

"Solomon Islands needs to know the detailed contents of this agreement. We will either remove it or revise it once we are in power after the upcoming elections," says Lilo.

Amidst the focus on China, many in Solomon Islands have called on the government to prioritize rural development, healthcare, education, and other urgent needs.

"We should set aside geopolitics and respond first to the urgent development needs and hardships that our rural people have experienced for decades," says Dr. Jack Maebuta, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University.

The head of Transparency Solomon Islands, Ruth Liloqula, echoes those concerns, criticizing the parties for campaigning "primarily based on foreign policies."

"We should put the rural areas first, instead of looking North or wherever they want to look, but remember that our rural people are suffering every day," says Liloqula.