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