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