IN-DEPTH: CCP Delegation Visits Solomon Islands, Experts Cite Threat to Taiwan

Amid tensions related to the Middle East war, experts are wary of an increased Chinese presence in the Pacific, particularly the Solomon Islands.A delegation of high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials recently visited the Solomon Islands. Chinese state media highlighted the visit as flourishing cooperation between the two countries, led by "strengthened engagement" between the CCP and the Solomon Islands' current ruling party, the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party, which is led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.The Solomon Islands, a nation of hundreds of islands in the South Pacific, some of which were pivotal World War II battlegrounds, has been in the geopolitical limelight in recent years due to its growing diplomatic and strategic proximity to China.The CCP's three-day state visit, which ended on Oct. 29, was led by Guo Yezhou, the deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Mr. Guo met with Mr. Sogavare, OUR Party's deputy leader and Minister for Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele, and representatives of other political parties in the nation's parliament.Amid the ongoing Israeli–Hamas conflict, while experts highlight the emergence of a new age of geopolitics, they also cite extensive and increasing threats to Taiwan emanating from the Chinese presence in the Pacific—particularly the Solomon Islands—that add to U.S. strategic burdens. The CCP delegation's visit thus raises fresh concerns.Akhil Ramesh, a senior fellow with the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum, is of the opinion that the Pacific Islands theater continues to gain significance to U.S. deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific vis-a-vis China, whose footprints in the region have deepened in the past decade."As the threat over Taiwan looms, [the] Solomon Islands' cordial ties with China—made clear by recent high-level visits—will remain Washington’s perennial challenge in the region," Mr. Ramesh told The Epoch Times in an email.Related Stories10/30/2023For decades, the Solomon Islands had a diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. After Mr. Sogavare's reelection in 2019 (he had previously served three non-consecutive terms) it ended the alliance and diplomatically recognized China.Jon Fraenkel, of the Victoria University of Wellington, in an analysis published on the East Asia Forum, described the realignment as a "game-changer" resulting from what he described as "lobbying" from Beijing, and from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, which promised $500 million in loans and grants to Mr. Sogavare."Plans were soon afoot to resuscitate the mothballed Guadalcanal gold mine, to build a sports stadium for the 2023 Pacific games, and even to temporarily take over Taiwan’s controversial slush funds for MPs," wrote Mr. Fraenkel.While an $825 million deal with Chinese companies to revive the goldmines came just a month after the island nation switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, it raised more concerns because it involved building and controlling power and port facilities, roads, rail and bridges on, in and around Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal, a strategic Pacific location that saw fierce fighting in World War II.Ironically, Solomon Islands doesn't control the infrastructure—it's instead controlled by Hong Kong-listed Wanguo International Mining, which has in turn contracted the work to state-owned China State Railway Group, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Cleo Paskal, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Epoch Times in an email that China is pushing on every door possible in the Pacific to advance its global strategic interests."It got an opening with Solomon's Prime Minister Sogavare and has pushed it open as hard and fast as it can. That doesn't mean it is ignoring the other doors though—while we are now focused on Solomons, there are major moves being made in a range of other countries, including Vanuatu, Palau, and [the] Marshall Islands," she said. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (L) looks on with Li Ming (2nd R), China's ambassador to the Solomon Islands, as they listen to a Chinese police officer (R) during a ceremony in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 4, 2022. (Gina Maka/AFP via Getty Images)Solomon Islands PM Skips Washington Summit President Joe Biden hosted a second summit—following last year's summit—with leaders of the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum at the White House on Sept. 25. The meeting's aim was to encourage engagement in the region, where the United States is in a battle for influence with China.However, despite being present in the United States to address the United Nations, Mr. Sogavare skipped the Pacific Islands summit.Speaking at a press conference after arriving home, Mr. Sogavare commented that he had attended the first Pacific Islands Forum last year but "nothing came

IN-DEPTH: CCP Delegation Visits Solomon Islands, Experts Cite Threat to Taiwan

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Amid tensions related to the Middle East war, experts are wary of an increased Chinese presence in the Pacific, particularly the Solomon Islands.

A delegation of high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials recently visited the Solomon Islands. Chinese state media highlighted the visit as flourishing cooperation between the two countries, led by "strengthened engagement" between the CCP and the Solomon Islands' current ruling party, the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party, which is led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

The Solomon Islands, a nation of hundreds of islands in the South Pacific, some of which were pivotal World War II battlegrounds, has been in the geopolitical limelight in recent years due to its growing diplomatic and strategic proximity to China.

The CCP's three-day state visit, which ended on Oct. 29, was led by Guo Yezhou, the deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Mr. Guo met with Mr. Sogavare, OUR Party's deputy leader and Minister for Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele, and representatives of other political parties in the nation's parliament.

Amid the ongoing Israeli–Hamas conflict, while experts highlight the emergence of a new age of geopolitics, they also cite extensive and increasing threats to Taiwan emanating from the Chinese presence in the Pacific—particularly the Solomon Islands—that add to U.S. strategic burdens. The CCP delegation's visit thus raises fresh concerns.

Akhil Ramesh, a senior fellow with the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum, is of the opinion that the Pacific Islands theater continues to gain significance to U.S. deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific vis-a-vis China, whose footprints in the region have deepened in the past decade.

"As the threat over Taiwan looms, [the] Solomon Islands' cordial ties with China—made clear by recent high-level visits—will remain Washington’s perennial challenge in the region," Mr. Ramesh told The Epoch Times in an email.

For decades, the Solomon Islands had a diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. After Mr. Sogavare's reelection in 2019 (he had previously served three non-consecutive terms) it ended the alliance and diplomatically recognized China.

Jon Fraenkel, of the Victoria University of Wellington, in an analysis published on the East Asia Forum, described the realignment as a "game-changer" resulting from what he described as "lobbying" from Beijing, and from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, which promised $500 million in loans and grants to Mr. Sogavare.

"Plans were soon afoot to resuscitate the mothballed Guadalcanal gold mine, to build a sports stadium for the 2023 Pacific games, and even to temporarily take over Taiwan’s controversial slush funds for MPs," wrote Mr. Fraenkel.

While an $825 million deal with Chinese companies to revive the goldmines came just a month after the island nation switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, it raised more concerns because it involved building and controlling power and port facilities, roads, rail and bridges on, in and around Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal, a strategic Pacific location that saw fierce fighting in World War II.

Ironically, Solomon Islands doesn't control the infrastructure—it's instead controlled by Hong Kong-listed Wanguo International Mining, which has in turn contracted the work to state-owned China State Railway Group, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Cleo Paskal, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Epoch Times in an email that China is pushing on every door possible in the Pacific to advance its global strategic interests.

"It got an opening with Solomon's Prime Minister Sogavare and has pushed it open as hard and fast as it can. That doesn't mean it is ignoring the other doors though—while we are now focused on Solomons, there are major moves being made in a range of other countries, including Vanuatu, Palau, and [the] Marshall Islands," she said.

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 Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (L) looks on with Li Ming (2nd R), China's ambassador to the Solomon Islands, as they listen to a Chinese police officer (R) during a ceremony in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 4, 2022. (Gina Maka/AFP via Getty Images)
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (L) looks on with Li Ming (2nd R), China's ambassador to the Solomon Islands, as they listen to a Chinese police officer (R) during a ceremony in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 4, 2022. (Gina Maka/AFP via Getty Images)

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Solomon Islands PM Skips Washington Summit

President Joe Biden hosted a second summit—following last year's summit—with leaders of the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum at the White House on Sept. 25. The meeting's aim was to encourage engagement in the region, where the United States is in a battle for influence with China.

However, despite being present in the United States to address the United Nations, Mr. Sogavare skipped the Pacific Islands summit.

Speaking at a press conference after arriving home, Mr. Sogavare commented that he had attended the first Pacific Islands Forum last year but "nothing came out of it."

"They lecture you about how good they are," said Mr. Sogavare, according to a report by the Solomon Islands media company Tavuli News.

In the forum, the United States made a pledge for infrastructure investment in the Pacific Island nations. A Biden administration official had earlier expressed dismay at Mr. Sogavare's absence from the summit. "We are disappointed that PM Sogavare of the Solomons does not plan to attend," the official told Reuters.

Arnab Das, director of the India-based Maritime Research Center, told The Epoch Times in an email that the snub by Mr. Sogavere was a clear sign of shifting alignments.

"U.S. hegemony is on the decline and the Chinese are making every effort to onboard critical partners on a strategic level," he said.

Mr. Sogavere's absence from the Sept. 25 summit came after the Solomon Islands signed nine agreements and memorandums with China during the prime minister's visit to China in July.

Most importantly, the deals included a police cooperation plan. Bearing this out, it was reported on Sunday that Chinese police will arrive in the Solomon Islands this month to help with security for the Pacific Games to be held from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2.

Apart from this, there were reports last year that a Chinese state-owned company was eyeing a forestry plantation with a port and World War II-era airstrip in the Solomons.

Thus when the Israeli–Hamas conflict started in early October, experts were concerned that the burgeoning conflict would strain U.S. resources and support China's agendas. Mr. Das is of the opinion that while the United States is overstretched, China will further push its footprint into various theaters, including the Solomon Islands.

"China is behind the scenes in all the major global events. Right from Ukraine to Israel and Taiwan," said Mr. Das, adding that the Solomon Islands is pivotal for China's strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Ramesh said that while the island nation may not be a big player militarily and economically, it is a geo-strategic one. "Solomon Islands is the one actor that could destabilize Washington's efforts at encircling China if conflict over Taiwan were to break [out] tomorrow," he said.

Ms. Paskal said that the strategic significance of the Solomon Islands' location can be understood from the fact that major World War II battles, including Guadalcanal, Bloody Ridge, and Iron Bottom Sound, were fought there.

"If you can block others, and project power from there, you can make life very difficult for the Australians, among others," she said.

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 U.S. President Joe Biden poses with Federated States of Micronesia's President David Panuelo, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape, and other leaders from the U.S.–Pacific Island summit (not pictured), at the White House, on Sept. 29, 2022. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)
U.S. President Joe Biden poses with Federated States of Micronesia's President David Panuelo, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape, and other leaders from the U.S.–Pacific Island summit (not pictured), at the White House, on Sept. 29, 2022. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)

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Countering China

Experts feel that in order to counter Chinese strategies in the Pacific Island nations, particularly in the Solomon Islands, the United States and its partners in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) need to work together to strengthen democratic institutions and make its policies more public centric in the region.

The Quad, which includes the United States, India, Australia, and Japan, has been criticized for not doing enough "public good," while keeping the informal alliance "largely for strategic security interests to counter China," said Mr. Das.

According to the maritime expert, the smaller nations in the Indo-Pacific region feel the great power rivalry between the United States and China is happening at their cost. He feels they are losing interest in the Quad and its relevance. "Announcements need to be backed with more actions on the ground," he said.

Ms. Paskal thinks that U.S. policies in the Solomon Islands can set a precedent for the rest of the region. The key, she feels, is to stop—or at least slow—the "flow of dirty PRC money" into the body politic of the Solomons.

"That is literally corrupting the whole country, including the democratic structures. Left to spread, it will carry with it the CCP way of doing things, and once that happens, things get very dire for the people of the country, and the security of the region," she said, adding that much of that Chinese money ends up in Australian and New Zealand banks and real estate.

Ms. Paskal advised that New Zealand and Australia investigate the flow of Chinese money within their own countries. She believes this is likely to provide enough information to expose and prosecute those who are, in her words, selling out "their people and country."

Mr. Das suggested an "Underwater Domain Awareness" (UDA) framework to generate trust among the smaller nations and help them in sustainable economic growth and management of climate risk.

There is immense interest today in the importance of UDA in nation-building.  According to the Maritime Research Center, in simple terms, UDA is "knowing what is happening beneath the surface of the oceans" and knowing "exactly what is where, to drive an effective exploration of the ocean."

Resting on the idea that technology has made the sea transparent, making it possible for maritime agencies to track undersea activity, UDA, according to the Observer's Research Foundation, "transcends the security discourse and integrates all key stakeholders" from security to disaster management to technology, in order to ensure "safe, secure, sustainable growth for all in the region." From a security perspective, UDA includes sea lines of communication, coastal waters, and maritime assets.

"UDA framework encourages pooling of resources and synergizing efforts across the stakeholders in the region," said Mr. Das.