Geopolitics looms large over the polls in Solomon Islands, where Beijing and Washington have been vying for influence for years. But for voters just struggling to make ends meet, Wednesday’s election may be decided by issues much closer to home.

As global supply chains are reshaped, countries such as Vietnam and Mexico are becoming attractive manufacturing hubs. Chinese-backed factories in the US might face resistance, but the job growth and knowledge transfer they bring will benefit the American economy.
