Solomon Islands ‘locks in’ China ties with another pro-Beijing leader as bilateral security pact still rankles
- New prime minister Jeremiah Manele is expected to apply a ‘lighter touch’ to ties with Beijing given the demand for greater transparency
- The rivalry between the US and China remains a concern for the Solomons as Washington steps up engagement in the Pacific region
On Thursday, the lawmakers picked Jeremiah Manele as their prime minister, who beat his opponent Matthew Wale in a 31-18 count. He succeeded Manasseh Sogavare, who was also seen as a staunch supporter of China.
Manele has said he will maintain the Solomons’ close ties with China, including honouring its secretive defence and security pact with Beijing, despite calls by the opposition for its revocation.
Opposition parties say that the government’s focus is misaligned, citing the example of the poorly neglected health services in the Solomons with many incidents of medicine running out even as Chinese companies are building stadiums in the capital Honiara and elsewhere.
Of the 700,000 Solomon Islands residents, over 80 per cent of them live outside Honiara and do not have access to basic services such as electricity, schools and clinics.
Sogavare, who had drawn his country closer to China in recent years, narrowly won his seat in the East Choiseul constituency in a vote on Wednesday.