Disturbing claims in Solomons

Late last month, after Australia sent troops and the Australian Federal Police to restore order in the Solomon Islands, Scott Morrison, correctly, made it clear it was not Australia’s role to interfere in the Solomons’ democracy or internal affairs. “What we want to see happen in the Solomon Islands is for the people of the Solomon Islands, under their constitution, under their normal processes, to resolve any issues they have,” the Prime Minister said. That must include the disturbing revelation that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has used a Chinese slush fund to lock in support for his leadership, ahead of Monday’s expected no-confidence vote. Promised payments of $44,000, from the country’s National Development Fund, will be paid only to MPs who back Mr Sogavare.

Australians will find it deeply offensive that Mr Sogavare has been accepting Chinese cash and offering such incentives, under the cover of the security blanket provided by Australian peacekeepers. And Solomon Islands voters are entitled to treat Mr Sogavare harshly at the ballot box when they have the chance.

Australia sent in the peacekeepers in response to a formal request for help from Mr Sogavare. As Mr Morrison said, Australia has “always been there to help our Pacific family when they have needed us and this is such a time”. It was encouraging to see that Mr Sogavare turned to Australia as the stabilising power. Peacekeepers from PNG, Fiji and New Zealand have also assisted.

The links between China and government payments in the Solomons are central to the grievances that led to the uprising. Protesters who torched Chinese businesses, parliamentary buildings and a police station are still angry over the 2019 decision to dump 36 years of diplomatic and economic ties to Taiwan, in favour of a closer relationship with Beijing. About 1000 demonstrators, mainly from the province of Malaita, travelled to Honiara to protest.

Mr Sogavare, whose government has 34 of the 49 sitting MPs, is likely to win Monday’s vote amid an uneasy calm in the capital. But news of the slush fund and the payments will intensify community anger. The fund also raises questions about whether Chinese money was a factor in the Solomon Islands’ switch in its diplomatic relationship from Taiwan in 2019. Malaita province Premier Daniel Sudaini has claimed he rejected a bribe of 1 million Solomon Islands dollars ($123,000) to end his support for Taipei. The current calm will remain tenuous.