Chinese police will not use ‘Hong Kong-style’ tactics in Solomon Islands, envoy to Australia says

Name: Solomon Islands riot sets Chinatown ablaze in capital Honiara as protests turn violent
Uploaded: 2022-05-02T05:30:15.000Z
Duration: 1 min 57 s
Description: Solomon Islands riot sets Chinatown ablaze in capital Honiara as protests turn violent

The Pacific island country’s top diplomat to Australia said that China’s police presence under a new security pact was aimed at boosting capabilities

It came as Washington announced plans to step up diplomatic engagement with Pacific nations that have not seen US ambassadors or engagement for decades

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Riot police fire tear gas at protesters in Hong Kong in 2019. Photo: AP

Reutersin Sydney

Published: 1:30pm, 2 May 2022Updated: 4:32pm, 2 May 2022

China’s police presence under a new security pact will boost the capabilities of the Solomon Islands but they will not use techniques seen in Hong Kong, the Pacific island country’s top diplomat to Australia said in a radio interview on Monday.

Already on guard about the pact because of concerns it gives China’s military a strategic foothold in the Pacific, Western allies are also worried that Chinese police sent there may use the same “ruthless” techniques previously used to quell anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

The Solomon Islands is “beefing up their capability” after local police were unable to contain anti-government riots in the Chinatown section of the capital Honiara in November, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia Robert Sisilo told ABC Radio.

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Solomon Islands riot sets Chinatown ablaze in capital Honiara as protests turn violent

Under the pact, Chinese military police could be called on but will operate under the command of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force just like Australian police that have deployed there, he said.

“We will try and do our best in terms of dealing with them to make sure that what is happening [elsewhere], like Hong Kong, doesn’t happen in our country,” he said.

While details of the security pact have not been disclosed, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare has ruled out a Chinese military base and said it covers policing because an agreement with traditional partner Australia was “inadequate”.