Author: solomonbusiness

Solomon Star endorses Taiwan – and 10 other interesting articles from the Solomon Star (11 June 2019)

Here are 11 interesting articles to read from the Solomon Star (11 June 2019 edition) with a brief explanation of why you should read them to better understand the issues relevant to Solomon Islands.

  1. Changing ties is not a priority. Because it’s interesting when a newspaper takes a political stance – especially when it’s a political stance on foreign relations. Here, the Solomon Star appears to side with Taiwan on the China-Taiwan issue. To balance your local news consumption, you may want to read the Island Sun which usually provides a different perspective on China.
  2. Logging activities affect city’s water. Because it shows how vulnerable Honiara’s current water supply system is to environmental factors. If you’re in Honiara, you should always be prepared for water shutdowns and have a backup system in place.
  3. Australia to manage $250 million grant. Because it’s refreshing to hear the Prime Minister admit that the Government has little control over how foreign donors implement their funding in the country. Here, Prime Minister Sogavare confirms the truth about foreign aid funding that we all know but rarely hear the Government talk openly about – that money from development aid is controlled by the foreign donor and all that Solomon Islands and its people can expect is to hope they can benefit from whatever, and whoever, the foreign donor decides to spend its money on.
  4. Locals, nation deserve better. Because lobby group, Transparency Solomon Islands, makes an interesting observation about the recent visits by top Government officials from Australia and New Zealand – that the Government considers it more important to temporarily fix roads for visiting dignitaries than to permanently repair roads for the local population.
  5. Clamping down on foreigners by Government. Because it indicates that the Government may put in place stricter measures on foreigners wishing to do business in Solomon Islands. As with any Ministerial announcements, how this translates into practice remains to be seen.
  6. Sogavare: We are transparent in political interest. Because it provides an explanation for why the DCGA Government is yet to confirm its position on the China-Taiwan issue – because the various parties forming the coalition government have different views on the issue.
  7. Vatud people want petition withdrawn. MP: Vatud needs another ship. Climate change affects Vatud people too. Tuki lauds voters, supporters. Because it shows how Members of Parliament have become media-savvy and aware of how to use the press to their advantage. Because it makes you think, what is news? Here, a whole page is devoted to media releases from Member of Parliament for Temotu Vatud, Freda Tuki.
  8. Kaoshing Medical University donates equipment to National Referral Hospital. Because this is Taiwan foreign diplomacy in action. Because it’s interesting that no member from the DCGA Government was there to publicly receive the donations or take part in the photo-op.
  9. Invitation to bid for the design and consultancy for the development of a boom gate and other structures at the road to Lungga Power Station and Mbetikama Adventist College east of Honiara. Because it indicates significant infrastructure development on property owned by Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  10. The International Finance Corporation seeks two new staff members, locally recruited in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu with one dedicated to each country. Because it indicates the project areas that the development aid financiers, World Bank and International Financial Corporation, will pursue in Solomon Islands – fisheries, tourism, and empowering women in the workforce.
  11. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the following vacant positions in the National Judiciary. Because this should improve the law and justice sector in the country – not just in Honiara but in the provinces as well.

Taipei official says Members of Parliament ridiculous

An article in the Solomon Star reports that a spokesperson from the Taipei Embassy in Honiara has described some Members of Parliament as ridiculous, for blaming Taipei for failing to build infrastructure and create job opportunities at their constituencies. The Taipei spokesperson is reported to have said that Taipei’s contribution of $1.4 million constituency development funds each year to each constituency should be enough, and that if Members of Parliament want to see developments in their constituencies, then they should put the CDF into good use. (Source: Solomon Star, 28 May 2019)

The article is in stark contrast to other previous statements by Taipei officials in the media which have repeatedly described Taipei’s relationship with the DCGA Government as strong – despite reports that some members of the DCGA Government were inclined to switch to China.

#offtherecord

Foreign interests get publicity in local press

The local paper, Solomon Star, usually publishes articles about certain events or statements promoted by foreign interests. Foreign interests that got some publicity on 27 May 2019 include:

  • UN Peacebuilding Fund, for funding a capacity building training for youths in the Western Province about how they should behave and the issues they should advocate for in the public sphere.
  • UNESCO, for promoting its women empowerment and gender equality agenda, during a speech delivered by an UNESCO representative at an event to promote International Girls in ICT Day 2019.

#propaganda

New law soon to control border crossing between Solomon Islands and PNG?

Officials from Solomon Islands and PNG recently met in Honiara to discuss arrangements relating to their shared border. Among topics discussed were the bilateral treaty over the seabed boundaries and border control regulations. (Source: Solomon Star, 27 May 2019)

Border crossings from Shortlands or Choiseul into Bougainville, and vice versa, may become more regulated.

#geopolitics

Australian Prime Minister to visit Solomon Islands to promote Australia’s national interest

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit Solomon Islands next week. It will be Morrison’s first overseas trip since winning re-election and will also be the first time an Australian prime minister has visited Solomon Islands since 2008. (Source: Reuters, 27 May 2019)

The announced visit comes shortly after Morrison met with a U.S official who publicly expressed views – likely directed at Prime Minister Sogavare and the pro-China group within the DCGA Government – that Solomon Islands should maintain its diplomatic relations with Taipei and not switch to China. The exact purpose of the visit is not clear – and the DCGA Government has not yet released any public statement over how the visit was arranged and what purpose it would serve – but it may be linked to the China situation. If history is anything to go by, Australia may engage in chequebook diplomacy to dissuade the Solomon Islands Government from engaging with China, just as it did with Chinese company, Huawei.

#dontworryimfromaustraliaandimheretohelp

US diplomat says Solomon Islands switch to China will be bad for USA

U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia, W Patrick Murphy, on a recent visit to Australia to discuss expanding their security alliance, says that China’s attempt to reduce Taipei’s influence in the Pacific region – referring to the possibility that Solomon Islands may switch to China – was heavy handed and warned that it could cause tension leading to the possibility of conflict. The U.S. official criticised China’s growing presence in the Pacific region saying that this could destabilize U.S. commercial, navigation, and overflight interests since China did not adhere to U.S. rules or U.S. international standards. (Source: Associated Press, 24 May 2019)

The U.S. official’s visit to Australia to discuss expanding their security alliance suggests the U.S. and Australia have common interests in the Pacific region and may have plans in place to expand their security presence in neighbouring Pacific countries – including Solomon Islands with its vast resource-rich oceans – to counter China’s growing presence in the region and maintain their sphere of influence in the region. The U.S. has already made known in the media their preference for Solomon Islands not to switch to China. It will be interesting to see how the DCGA Government reacts to the U.S. official’s suggestion.

#newcoldwar

USA seeks to influence Solomon Islands over China situation

U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia, W Patrick Murphy, has warned Solomon Islands – and in particular the Sogavare led DCGA Governemnt – to maintain the status quo with Taipei. The U.S. official says that countries – like Solomon Islands – should make their own independent choice of who they enter into diplomatic relations with, and that they should make that choice on the basis of domestic ingredients, not foreign influence. The U.S. official said the U.S. was very keen to help countries – like Solomon Islands – protect their sovereignty and their independence, and that Solomon Islands should depend on the U.S. for their development, infrastructure, and nation building needs. (Source: Reuters, 24 May 2019)

The statements from the U.S. official suggest that it would not be in the interest of the U.S. for Solomon Islands to establish diplomatic ties with China. The U.S. official’s statements suggest the U.S. will make full use of its diplomatic arsenal – including its chequebook to fund infrastructure developments – to ensure Solomon Islands’ decision on the China situation aligns with U.S. interests. It will be interesting to see how the DCGA Government reacts to the U.S. official’s suggestion.

#newcoldwar

Pro-Taipei article appears in local press

An article in the Solomon Star promotes Taipei for supporting the education and training of two Solomon Islands medical students in a hospital in Taipei. (Source: Solomon Star, 24 May 2019)

The pro-Taipei article follows a number of similar pro-Taipei articles that have also been published in the local press. The ongoing publication of pro-Taipei articles suggests that the press may have an important role in influencing public perception over the China situation. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#propaganda

New charity group in Kira Kira gets publicity in local press

An article in the Solomon Star promotes a charity group from Australia that recently set up in Kira Kira and whose priorities are the Makira Banana Festival 2019, Nurses for Nurse Exchange between Australia and Kira Kira, and water sanitation programs in Kira Kira. (Source: Solomon Star, 24 May 2019)

It is not clear who is funding the charity group.

#nonprofitindustrialcomplex