Category: Solomon Islands

Strategically Located Vanuatu Heads for the Polls After Court Upholds Parliament’s Dissolution

September 11, 2022
Asia & PacificAustraliaChinaGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsKiribatiSolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS NewsUS-ChinaUS-China relationsVanuatuWorld
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The Pacific nation of Vanuatu will go to the polls next month after the Parliament was dissolved so that Prime Minister Bob Loughman could avoid a no-confidence vote. Loughman has faced pressure for months after attempting to change the Constitution to extend his government’s term limit, the move also comes amid an ongoing influence push…

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Beijing-Friendly Solomons PM Delays Election, Extends Term Until 2024

September 8, 2022
Asia & PacificAustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecuritySolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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The Solomon Islands government has successfully delayed the country’s national elections, effectively extending the term of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who has moved quickly to leverage deepening ties with Beijing to solidify his power. The vote passed with 37 out of the Parliament’s 50 MPs in support. This comes after a report last year revealed…

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US Hospital Ship a Pawn in Solomons Prime Minister Power Play: Expert

September 5, 2022
Asia & PacificAustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecuritySolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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South Pacific expert Cleo Paskal has said the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is steadily moving all his chips into place before a sudden move to solidify his hold on power with the backing of Beijing. Her comments come in response to the recent decision by the Solomons to allow U.S. Navy hospital ship,…

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US Hospital Ship a Pawn in Solomons PM’s China Power Play: Expert

September 5, 2022
Asia & PacificAustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecuritySolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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South Pacific expert Cleo Paskal has said the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is steadily moving all his chips into place before a sudden move to solidify his hold on power with the backing of Beijing. Her comments come in response to the recent decision by the Solomons to allow U.S. Navy hospital ship,…

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Small States, and Seemingly Small Events, Are Key Indicators of US Power

September 5, 2022
ChinaOpinionsmall statesSolomon IslandsThinking About ChinaViewpoints
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Commentary Small states and their actions are key indicators of U.S. power. They allow Washington to perceive which way the geopolitical winds are blowing because small states get a vote regarding whether they seek to align with the United States or its enemy, communist China. Two recent events reveal that the evidence is mixed. That…

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India Is Helping Sri Lanka Lessen Dependence on China: Expert

September 3, 2022
Asia & PacificChinahambantotaIndiaSolomon IslandsThreat from Communist ChinaUS-China relationsVivoWorldXiaomi
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India is helping Sri Lanka reduce its dependence on China, according to Cleo Paskal, an associate fellow at the Asia-Pacific Programme at London-based Chatham House. “India has been extending loans, and it sent fertilizer. It’s been really trying to–again–on the political warfare front, create a situation where Sri Lanka isn’t so dependent on China,” Paskal…

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Solomons Accepts US Medical Ship Visit After Rejecting Naval Vessel

September 1, 2022
AustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecurityOliver HenrySolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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The Solomon Islands has received the U.S. Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, during its inaugural visit to the island despite earlier rejecting a scheduled port call from U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry. On Aug. 31, the Solomons government released a statement saying Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare spoke at the welcoming ceremony for the…

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Solomons Accepts US Medical Ship Visit After Rejecting Coast Guard Vessel

September 1, 2022
AustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecurityOliver HenrySolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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The Solomon Islands has received the U.S. Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, during its inaugural visit to the island despite earlier rejecting a scheduled port call from U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry. On Aug. 31, the Solomons government released a statement saying Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare spoke at the welcoming ceremony for the…

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Defence Minister Unable to Confirm If Solomons’ US Naval Ship Ban Extends to Australia

August 31, 2022
Asia & PacificAustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecurityRichard MarlesSolomon IslandsSouth PacificUSUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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Defence Minister Richard Marles could not confirm whether a recent ban on U.S. naval ship visits to the Solomon Islands extended to Australian vessels. On Aug. 29, the U.S. Embassy in Canberra revealed the Solomon Islands had notified the U.S. authorities of a “moratorium” on all naval visits pending updates to its “protocol procedures.” “We…

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Solomon Islands Suspends All US Naval Visits

August 30, 2022
AustraliaChinaChina-Australia RelationsGlobal ExpansionInternationalInternational RelationsManasseh SogavareNational SecuritySolomon IslandsSouth PacificSpecial TopicsUSUS Coast GuardUS NewsUS-China relationsWorld
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The Solomon Islands has informed U.S. authorities that all naval visits have been suspended until further notice following an earlier incident on Aug. 23 when a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry, was denied permission for a scheduled port call. The incident comes amid mounting concerns about Beijing’s influence in the region and Solomons…

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