Australian and U.S. leaders should stop appealing to the Solomon Islands prime minister to change his mind on a contentious security deal with Beijing that could pave the way for militarisation of the region.
Instead, one expert on the South Pacific says the focus should be on engaging with stakeholders interested in democracy and weakening ties with China.
“The Solomon Islands has a wide and deep array of honest and dedicated leaders, including provincial premiers, members of Parliament, chiefs, faith leaders, women’s group leaders and more—many of whom have come out, on the record, as against the deal with China,” said Cleo Paskal, associate fellow at the Asia-Pacific Programme at the London-based Chatham House.
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