Pro-Taipei article quoting Guadalcanal man appears in local press

A Guadalcanal man has told the Solomon Star of his support for Taipei, and called on the country, and on the DCGA Government in particular, to appreciate Taipei for what it had done over the years. He said he would be disappointed if the Solomon Islands switched to China. (Source: Solomon Star, 23 May 2019)

Given the continuing uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China, the issue remains a hot topic. The press have published many articles on the issue, and this recent article continues a trend of articles featuring pro-Taipei comments sourced from citizens of Solomon Islands. According to recent media reports, Taipei may be having some trouble communicating with the DCGA Government, and Taipei would hope that this pro-Taipei article can influence public perception in their favour, and perhaps nudge the DCGA Government to look their way instead of towards China. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#astroturfing

Oxfam safe family project gets publicity in local press

A charity group, Oxfam, has launched a program to address violence against women. A Malaita provincial government representative, speaking at the launch, highlighted that alcohol, drug abuse, as well as unemployment, were the leading causes of violence against women and therefore these needed to be addressed. (Source: Solomon Star, 23 May 2019)

The program aligns with the agenda to promote women empowerment.

#nonprofitindustrialcomplex

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

Prime Minister given 6 months to switch to China or face motion of no confidence

The Solomon Star has reported that 22 Members of Parliament within the DCGA Government have told Prime Minister Sogavare that he has 6 months to establish diplomatic ties with China or else he will have to face a motion of no confidence. The Solomon Star further reported that the 22 Members of Parliament have been given the green light from China for massive infrastructure development on the islands. (Source: Solomon Star, 20 May 2019)

Despite the continued uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will switch to China, the DCGA Government is yet to officially confirm its position on the issue. This suggests – which Taipei has already admitted – that there is a real pro-China movement within the DCGA Government ranks. The Solomon Star has not identified which Ministers are in the pro-China camp and it remains to be seen whether the pro-China camp is 22-members strong as reported. Taipei’s influence in Solomon Islands appears to be in rapid decline following the 2019 national general elections and while the 6-month reprieve will be provide some much needed breathing space for Taipei to come up with an irresistible offer, the war may already be lost. The uncertainty over whether Solomon Islands will establish diplomatic ties with China continues.

#victorycanbeanticipatedbutitcannotbeforced

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

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