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Rory Medcalf

Sogavare’s new Chinese enforcers a test for a fragile democracy

An armed Chinese praetorian guard for Solomon Islands’ prime minister could aggravate instability and discontent, not ease it.

Rory MedcalfGeopolitical analyst

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Canberra’s worries about a future Chinese military base in Solomon Islands obscure a more immediate risk in Beijing’s security deal with Australia’s Pacific neighbour.

That’s the very real prospect of China’s paramilitary police becoming the go-to provider of internal security in this fractured democracy.

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Professor Rory Medcalf is head of the National Security College at the Australian National University.

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/sogavare-s-new-chinese-enforcers-a-test-for-a-fragile-democracy-20220503-p5ai5p