Taipei offers olive branch to Government

An unnamed official from Taipei based in Honiara, in a statement published in the Solomon Star, has confirmed that there is no official dialogue with the DCGA Government over whether Solomon Islands will maintain the status quo or switch to China. The Taipei official however announced that it would offer an olive branch to assist in the building of sports infrastructures needed to host the 2023 Pacific Games. The official further announced that Solomon Islanders who graduate from Universities in Taipei will be allowed to live and work there after graduation. (Source: Solomon Star, 21 May 2019)

Taipei’s admission that there is still no official dialogue with the DCGA Government and its offer of an olive branch is rather telling. Given China’s extensive experience in building sports stadiums for the previous Pacific Games hosts, and given that only Taipei-educated Solomon Islanders would be able to work in Taiwan, Taipei’s offer may not be as attractive as it ought to be if the status quo is to be maintained. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#bargaining

TSI criticises pro-China movement in Government

Lobby group, Transparency Solomon Islands, in a press release published in the Solomon Star, has criticised the actions of certain Members within the DCGA Government in pressuring Prime Minister Sogavare to establish diplomatic ties with China. TSI urged the Members to instead support Prime Minister Sogavare instead of causing instability by threatening a motion of no confidence in the event the switch – which TSI described as a non-issue – does not happen. (Source: Solomon Star, 21 May 2019)

TSI’s description of the debate over whether Solomon Islands should switch to China as a non-issue is curious given Solomon Islands’ historical reliance on development-aid from foreign states and entities – notably Australia, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank. If China joins that group, that could have serious and significant repercussions not only locally but globally as well. The debate, within the DCGA Government, over whether Solomon Islands should partner with China is therefore a very serious issue and one that will need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. While Prime Minister Sogavare may been keen to keep the status quo, if the majority of the Members within the DCGA Government want to switch, then according to the principle of democracy, the will of the majority may have to be followed. The fact that TSI has considered it necessary to enter the debate suggests the pro-China movement within the DCGA Government is very real and may be gaining momentum. Taipei will surely look forward to more similar articles appearing in the media if it is to have any chance of maintaining the status quo. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#astroturfing

China says Solomon Islands can benefit from Belt and Road Initiative

China’s Ambassador to Fiji, Qian Bo, has stated that Solomon Islands can transform its infrastructure with China’s help. The Ambassador said that, theoretically speaking, the situation in Solomon Islands can be turned to the better overnight if all the development partners, including China and other partners, work together. (Source: ABC, 14 May 2019)

The statement appear not only aimed at Solomon Islands – and the DCGA Government who may be contemplating a switch to China – but also at other partners which may include other countries in the Pacific region who have diplomatic ties with China and are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. China’s partners in the Pacific – Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Vanuatu, who have strong economic and political ties with Solomon Islands – may have a significant role to play in promoting the benefits of having China as a development partner. Other countries with an interest in Solomon Islands – Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America – may also have their own views about whether Solomon Islands switching to China would be in their national interest. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#tappingup

Taipei funds not part of Government budget

A Taipei envoy in Honiara has responded to an article in the Island Sun which reported that the DCAG Government wanted increased funding from Taipei. The envoy said that Taipei looked forward to consultation with the DCAG Government and Prime Minister Sogavare to further strengthen their mutual cooperation but denied that the DCAG Government had consulted it about Taipei providing funds for the DCAG Government’s 2019 budget. (Source: Solomon Star, 15 May 2019)

The DCAG Government has about 2 weeks to complete its 2019 budget before Parliament resumes. The envoy’s admission that the DCAG Government has not requested any budgetary support from Taipei for the 2019 budget raises questions over whether Taipei still has a role to play in Solomon Islands. It will be interesting to see what moves Taipei makes in the coming days to secure its ties with Solomon Islands. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#ghosted

Taipei sends naval vessels to Solomon Islands as switch to China looms

Prime Minister Sogavare and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele, have thanked Taipei for being friends and for assisting Solomon Islands over the last 35 years in speeches delivered during a goodwill visit from naval vessels sent from Taipei which were recently in Honiara. (Source: Solomon Star)

The Prime Minister skipped the opportunity to confirm its commitment to Taipei. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#thankunext

Solomon Islands warned to beware of China

A full page article was published in the Solomon Star newspaper in which an unidentified author praised democratic Taiwan and criticised communist China and encouraged Solomon Islanders and the Government to continue supporting Taiwan and to beware of China. (Source: Solomon Star)

The article follows a long line of pro-Taipei/anti-China articles in the media following the conclusion of the 2019 national general elections.The upsurge in these types of articles suggests that there is real concern by Taipei over whether the DCGA Government will establish diplomatic ties with China.

#astroturfing