Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has accused Australia and New Zealand of cutting off aid funding and now says Beijing will step in.
Mr. Sogavare made the claims upon his return to Honiara after a week-long visit to China, where he met with communist leadership.
The prime minister, who has actively sought to deepen relations with Beijing, has maintained a fiery relationship with traditional democratic allies, at one point last year accusing the Australian government of “foreign interference” in the islands’ affairs.
Upon returning from his latest trip, Sogavare claimed Australia had delayed a $12 million funding allocation for the Solomons budget and accused New Zealand of doing the same with $15 million….