Beijing’s Solomon Islands foothold

Acceptance by the Solomon Islands government of a Chinese offer of police help and riot gear to deal with unrest in the troubled South Pacific nation is disappointing. Thursday’s announcement by embattled Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said that six Chinese “police liaison officers” will be deployed to train members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

But, as the Brookings Institution noted, such “use of international police liaisons” were part of Beijing’s “global law enforcement co-operation”. Few would be surprised if the half-dozen Chinese officers are soon joined by others to help train local police in the riot equipment and gain influence in the country. According to the government announcement, the equipment will include shields, helmets, batons “and other nonlethal gears (sic) that will further enhance Solomon Islands Police ability in confronting future threats”. But the arrival of Chinese police and riot gear, which may be similar to that used to suppress pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, is likely to inflame domestic tensions.

Large crowds in Honiara amid civil unrest. Picture: Twitter

When Scott Morrison announced the deployment last month of Australian soldiers and police to deal with the rioting that was laying waste to Honiara, he was adamant that answering the plea for help from Mr Sogavare should in no way be seen as taking sides in the internal conflict between the Solomon Islands government and opposition. “We believe in their sovereignty, and we believe in them being able to resolve those issues (democratically),” the Prime Minister insisted. Subsequent deployments of troops and police by other Pacific allies, including New Zealand, Fiji and PNG, were made with the same disclaimer.

Given its track record, it is unlikely China’s help carries any similar assurance. After leading the drive to end 36 years of close diplomatic ties and co-operation with Taiwan, Mr Sogavare is very much Beijing’s man. The Chinese police set to work with the Solomon Islands police, and the riot control equipment they bring with them, will doubtless form part of the drive to ensure Mr Sogavare stays in office, despite the attempt by opposition forces mainly from the big Malaita island to oust him.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare speaks at a press conference. Picture AFP.

Mr Sogavare would be unwise to ignore the ongoing depth of feeling on the Taiwan issue that led to last month’s devastating rioting. The opposition lost a subsequent parliamentary vote demanding Mr Sogavare’s resignation. But it did so amid reports that China had stumped up cash for MPs who voted for Mr Sogavare. There is no sign of any diminution in the widespread dissent over his shackling of the country to China. The announcement of even a small Chinese police deployment and riot gear is likely to exacerbate that outrage.

It is also likely – with justification – to annoy Australia and the other Pacific nations that rushed to answer Mr Sogavare’s cries for help as rioters set fire to buildings in Honiara and looters rampaged through its business district targeting, in many instances, Chinese-owned shops. At any time, the deployment of Chinese police to the Solomon Islands, however small the numbers, would be a matter of deep concern for states across the Indo-Pacific. That is especially the case when Beijing, using its “debt trap” Belt & Road Initiative, is involved in a major infrastructure-building program aimed at giving it a more significant foothold in the country. Given its port facilities, the Solomon Islands is a strategic target for Beijing’s expansionism.