Solomon Islands MP says music, sport, culture Australia’s best assets in competition with China in the Pacific

Australia is being urged to redouble its effort in one of its nearest neighbouring countries to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

Australia is being urged to redouble efforts in the Pacific to counter China’s growing influence in the region, with a key Solomon Islands lawmaker vowing his country is not a complete “lost cause” despite its deepening security ties with Beijing.

Crossbench MP Peter Kenilorea Jr said a Jimmy Barnes concert in the capital Honiara, support to develop the local women’s rugby sevens team and a joint Solomons-Vanuatu soccer team are among the “soft diplomacy” initiatives he believes could further strengthen ties with Australia in ways China cannot compete.

“The challenge for Australia is the support for Solomons is happening, but the people don’t realise it,” he said.

“China makes the big splash on a stadium, and meanwhile Australia spends equivalent value in a year on health, education, policing and capacity building in the public service, but it doesn’t have the same visibility.”

Mr Kenilorea said given his country’s love of music, he had no doubt an appearance by Australian rock legend “Barnsey” would “pack out” that same stadium.

Crossbench MP Peter Kenilorea Jr says Australia should not be afraid to hold frank conversations with the Pacific about China’s rising influence. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

He also backed Australia’s existing investment in specific community projects, like a planned birthing centre, which he said would both improve health outcomes and ease the financial burden of hospital care for the government.

“When Australia does do infrastructure like that, it’s important that there’s an awareness component of why this has been funded and how it helps,” Mr Kenilorea said.

“These are wonderful and welcome investments, but the publicity part is needed.”

Revelations of a security pact signed between China and the Solomons sent shockwaves through the Pacific two years ago, and came after then-Solomons PM Manasseh Sogavare abandoned the islands’ long-running recognition of Taiwan in favour of Beijing, a move Mr Kenilorea – who was elected as a crossbench MP in 2019 – has opposed.

In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Intra-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) summit in the Taiwanese capital Taipei on Wednesday, Mr Kenilorea said he believed his country was not a “lost cause” when it came to Australia’s efforts to re-establish itself as the preferred development partner.

But he also said Australia should not be scared of using tough language with Pacific governments to remind them of the shared values and history that run much deeper than their recent attachments to Chinese financial assistance.

“I think sometimes there’s a fear we’re going to run into China’s arms, but in reality this situation needs really open and candid exchanges about what is happening in the region,” he said.

Peter Kenilorea Jr says Solomon Islanders love music and would ‘pack out’ a stadium to see Jimmy Barnes. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Mr Kenilorea said the previous Solomons government saw playing China and Australia off against each other as the way to secure more finance for the country, but he believed this had undermined development efforts.

“This leveraging and squeezing diplomatic partners to get as much as possible is a narrative that is definitely out there from the last government,” he said.

“We’re getting a lot of attention, but it’s not good attention.

“It’s more security focused rather than development.”

On the right, Central Coast Mariners' Ni-Vanuatu defender Brian Kaltak is a popular sporting figure in the Solomon Islands. Picture: Haitham Al-Shukairi/AFP

Mr Kenilorea said with a new Solomons government leadership since the elections earlier this year, there was opportunity for Australia.

The Chinese Government has criticised the IPAC summit publicly, while trying to exert pressure privately on parliamentarians not to travel to Taipei.

In a statement IPAC confirmed eight MPs from five countries reportedly received emails or phone calls from Chinese diplomatic officials before they departed for Taipei and said it “deplores and condemns” the attempt to interfere.

The Solomons and Taiwan this week became members of IPAC, which now has representatives from more than 40 countries.

Clare Armstrong travelled to Taiwan with the support of IPAC

Originally published as Solomon Islands MP says music, sport, culture Australia’s best assets in competition with China in the Pacific