Editorial | Solomon Islands incident sends out a salient message
- Violence that has gripped the islands’ capital underlines how foreign players may have a destabilising effect, especially when failing to understand or consider social and political undercurrents
Beijing’s whittling away of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to further the island’s international isolation has been highly successful.
Since Tsai Ing-wen became the Taiwanese leader five years ago, seven countries have switched ties.
But the strategy is not as simple as coaxing and enticing, as unrest that has targeted Chinese businesses in the Solomon Islands shows.
China needs to be mindful that relations also require sustained interaction and cooperation.
The Solomons shifted formal diplomatic recognition of China from Taipei to Beijing in 2019 under current prime minister Manasseh Sogavare. But the nation’s most populous province, Malaita, objected to the switch and continues to get aid from Taiwan and, last year, also received US$25 million in support from the United States.
Many of the protesters besieging Honiara this week calling for the leader’s resignation are from the region, their grievances including a lack of government services, accountability, alleged corruption and Chinese firms giving jobs to foreigners rather than locals.