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BACKGROUND. Solomon Islands is a sovereign state consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania lying to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu and covering a land area of 28,400 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi). The country's capital, Honiara (86,000) is located on the island of Guadalcanal. With a population of a 600,000 and growing, and 70 living Melanesian languages, most people also speak Pijin, a mix of English and local languages. Polynesian languages are spoken on island outliers such as Rennel, Tikopia, Sikaiana , and Ontong Java. Most people are employed in subsistence agriculture. The country is heavily dependent on aid.
By Chris O'Keefe (my sub title)
June 2, 2019 — 10.00pm
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Sydney Morning Herald
Honiara: Australia will fund $250 million worth of urgently needed projects across the Solomon Islands, as Scott Morrison tries to convince our Pacific neighbours not to open diplomatic channels with China.
The Prime Minister will announce the grants in Honiara on Monday, as part of his first post-election overseas trip. The money will finance a range of projects over 10 years, and will complement the $2 billion infrastructure fund Mr Morrison has established for the Pacific.
The Chinese government is pressuring the Solomon Islands to cut ties with Taiwan and sign up to Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.
The Solomons is one of a handful of Pacific nations that recognises Taiwan as
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said any decision to switch diplomatic allegiances is the Solomon Islands alone to make.
Honiara: Australia will fund $250 million worth of urgently needed projects across the Solomon Islands, as Scott Morrison tries to convince our Pacific neighbours not to open diplomatic channels with China.
The Prime Minister will announce the grants in Honiara on Monday, as part of his first post-election overseas trip. The money will finance a range of projects over 10 years, and will complement the $2 billion infrastructure fund Mr Morrison has established for the Pacific.
The Chinese government is pressuring the Solomon Islands to cut ties with Taiwan and sign up to Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.
The Solomons is one of a handful of Pacific nations that recognises Taiwan as
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said any decision to switch diplomatic allegiances is the Solomon Islands alone to make.
“Diplomatic relations is a sovereign decision,” Mr Sogavare said.
“Solomon Islands foreign policy has always been premised on the principle of 'friend to all and enemy to none'.”
The decision has caused unrest within an already fragile political system, with local MPs at odds over whether to take up China’s offer.
Former prime minister Rick Houenipwela said the current arrangement with Taiwan serves the country well, while former United Nations diplomat Peter Kenilorea Jr said the Solomon Islands would benefit economically from a move closer to China but questioned the timing.
Scott Morrison is the first Australian Prime Minister to visit the Solomon Islands since Kevin Rudd in 2008.
Mr Morrison will also pledge $2.7 million to help pay for costs associated with Australian working visa applications, and $260,000 for a rugby program.
The Prime Minister is expected to lay a wreath at the Guadalcanal World War II memorial before a bilateral meeting with Mr Sogavare.
In a recent visit to Canberra, US acting assistant secretary for Southeast Asia, Patrick Murphy, urged Pacific Island countries not to cut ties with Taiwan.
“It gives rise to tensions by changing the status quo and then the possibility of conflict.” Mr Murphy said.
China’s President Xi Jinping hosted Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai in Beijing last week, and denied his government was trying to muscle into the Pacific.
“We have no private interests in island countries, and do not seek a so-called 'sphere of influence'.” China's Foreign Ministry said.
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READ ALSO. NZ's Sam Sachdeva on where the Pacific fits in the security debate.
and Tarcisius Kabutaulaka on the logging bonanza that hasn't helped Solomon Islanders
“Solomon Islands foreign policy has always been premised on the principle of 'friend to all and enemy to none'.”
The decision has caused unrest within an already fragile political system, with local MPs at odds over whether to take up China’s offer.
Former prime minister Rick Houenipwela said the current arrangement with Taiwan serves the country well, while former United Nations diplomat Peter Kenilorea Jr said the Solomon Islands would benefit economically from a move closer to China but questioned the timing.
Scott Morrison is the first Australian Prime Minister to visit the Solomon Islands since Kevin Rudd in 2008.
Mr Morrison will also pledge $2.7 million to help pay for costs associated with Australian working visa applications, and $260,000 for a rugby program.
The Prime Minister is expected to lay a wreath at the Guadalcanal World War II memorial before a bilateral meeting with Mr Sogavare.
In a recent visit to Canberra, US acting assistant secretary for Southeast Asia, Patrick Murphy, urged Pacific Island countries not to cut ties with Taiwan.
“It gives rise to tensions by changing the status quo and then the possibility of conflict.” Mr Murphy said.
China’s President Xi Jinping hosted Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai in Beijing last week, and denied his government was trying to muscle into the Pacific.
“We have no private interests in island countries, and do not seek a so-called 'sphere of influence'.” China's Foreign Ministry said.
---
READ ALSO. NZ's Sam Sachdeva on where the Pacific fits in the security debate.
and Tarcisius Kabutaulaka on the logging bonanza that hasn't helped Solomon Islanders
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