Category: Solomon Islands

Tsunami Warning as Magnitude 7 Quake Strikes Solomon Islands

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands Tuesday afternoon, triggering a tsunami warning. There were no immediate reports of widespread damage or injuries. Freelance journalist Charley Piringi said he was standing outside a warehouse next to a primary and a secondary school on the outskirts of the capital, Honiara, when the quake…


‘Dangerous’: Expert Pans Move to Donate Guns, Armoured Vehicles to Pro-Beijing Solomons Leader

The Australian Labor government’s decision to gift weapons and armoured vehicles to the Solomons government has been branded “ill-conceived and dangerous” by Pacific expert Cleo Paskal, saying the move is pushing the country one step closer towards civil war. On Nov. 2, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) delivered training and around $1.3 million (US$740,000) worth…


Australian Liberal Senator Urges Federal Labor to Avoid ‘Arms Race’ With Beijing Over Solomon Islands

Liberal frontbencher, Simon Birmingham, has urged the Albanese government to avoid an arms race with Beijing following the Chinese regime’s counter donation of police equipment and vehicles to the Solomon Islands. This follows a donation of 13 vehicles and 60 MK18 rifles made by the Australian Federal Police to the Solomon Islands that was formalised…


Australia Pledges Extra $103 Million in Aid to the Solomons Despite Its Pro-Beijing Ties

Australia’s diplomatic representative to the Solomon Islands has announced an extra $US103 million in aid to the Pacific country as part of an ongoing diplomatic offensive against Beijing’s influence with the Sogavare government. Australian High Commissioner Lachlan Strahan said the package will include support for health, education, governance, elections among several other initiatives, reported RNZ on Oct. 31….


Despite Slowing Economy, Beijing Continues Pumping Aid Into the Solomons, Kiribati

Beijing is pumping more money into new developments in the Solomon Islands and Kiribati as “COVID-Zero” policies pummel the Chinese economy. While Chinese aid flows to the overall Pacific region declined from 2016 to 2021, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has upped its investment in the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, which switched allegiances from Taiwan…


Solomons Police Officers Heading to China for Month of ‘Training’

The Solomon Islands has dispatched 32 officers to China for training in policing techniques and to improve their understanding of Chinese culture. The officers will visit different police stations in China during the visit, according to a statement from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force obtained by Reuters. Officers will stay in the country for…


Solomon Islands Prime Minister Not to Be Trusted on Beijing Ties: Expert

A leading security expert has questioned the Solomon Islands Prime Minister’s latest claim that Australia remains the country’s top security partner over China. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare would not be able to withstand any pressure from Beijing, according to Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). “I don’t think Sogavare’s going to…


CCP ‘Suppress the Truth and Spread Lies’ in Solomon Islands: Australian Think Tank

A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has revealed that Beijing is spreading false information in the Solomon Islands in an attempt to undermine its partnerships with Australia and the United States. The report entitled “Suppressing the Truth and Spreading Lies: How the CCP is influencing Solomon Islands’ information environment,” published on Oct. 5, examined…


Solomons ‘Unfairly Targeted’ Since Recognizing China Over Taiwan: Sogavare in UN Speech

The prime minister of the Solomon Islands complained on Friday that his country had been subjected to “a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced criticisms, misinformation, and intimidation” since preferencing diplomatic relations with China over Taiwan in 2019. In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Manasseh Damukana Sogavare said the Solomons had been…


Taiwanese Academic Warns Australia About Beijing’s ‘Dangerous Expansion’

The recently assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe once said “A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan–U.S. alliance.” Australia should adopt the same stance now, according to a Taiwanese expert. Dr. David Yeau-Tarn Lee called on Australia to play a stronger role in combating the Chinese Communist Party…