Buying friends and influencing people

The Solomon Islands election will be watched closely by both Beijing and Washington, and test the success of China’s policy of buying political influence in the region.

Will China win the Solomon Islands election?

The overbearing economic, political and security influence of China will weigh heavily on the Solomon Islands election.

The last election?

Solomon Islanders are set to vote on 17 April in an election that has significance within and beyond the country’s borders due to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s increasingly authoritarian stance and backing from China.

Solomons under Sogavare

Solomon Islands has forged closer ties with Beijing under Manasseh Sogavare’s prime ministership, but though a Sogavare victory in the upcoming Solomon Islands elections will pose a continuing challenge for Australia’s Pacific Island engagement strategy, there are also opportunities.

Why did the Solomon Islands turn to China?

Debate rages on Solomon Islands-China security pact and its implications for regional security. Why did Solomon Islands turn to China?

Beyond the Solomon’s blame game

The Chinese government have bribed their way into a ‘security agreement’ with the Solomon Islands which will inevitably lead to a military base directly threatening Australia’s security. Rather than bicker over blame, both the Coalition and Labor must take action to protect the region from further Chinese incursion.