China, Solomon Islands security development ‘very concerning’, says opposition politician

The Solomon Islands government’s decision to accept Beijing‘s offer to help stem month-long riots in Honiara has been labelled “very concerning”.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s decision to accept Beijing‘s offer to bolster domestic policing capabilities to help stem month-long riots in Honiara, the capital city, represents a “very concerning” development, according to one of the country’s leading opposition politicians.

On Thursday, the Solomon Islands government released a statement announcing it had accepted an offer from China to provide assistance to the Royal Solomon Islands police force under an existing bilateral agreement — a bid to defuse civil disobedience in the capital city, which has been ongoing since late November.

Describing the situation in Honiara as one of “uneasy calm”, Peter Kenilorea Jr, a United Party member and son of the politician who led the Solomon Islands to independence, said there was broad public appreciation of the support offered by Australia, New Zealand and other regional partners.

However, with rioting in Honiara partially driven by the government instigating closer diplomatic ties with Beijing, Mr Kenilorea Jr said the Prime Minister’s decision to accept the offer of specialised equipment such as shields, helmets and batons and training to the country’s police force, was troubling.

“I am very concerned about the decision by the government to also invite Chinese law enforcement authorities to build our capacity in law and order and general security concerns,” Mr Kenilorea Jr told The Australian.

“I strongly feel that when it comes to matters of security we should not be ambiguous on who our security partners of choice should be”.

In November, Scott Morrison announced an Australian peacekeeping force would be deployed to the Solomon Islands after a request for support from Mr Sogavare.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with Prime Minister Manasseh Damukana Sogavare of the Solomon Islands in Beijing in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

The force, comprising of more than 100 Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force personnel, was dispatched to the Pacific nation after days of rioting against Mr Sogavare‘s government.

After being elected in 2019, Mr Sogavare — a longtime critic of Australia — has sought closer links with Beijing, ditching diplomatic ties with Taiwan and granting Chinese companies with the tender to build critical infrastructure.

He has played down the role the relationship has played in domestic unrest, instead blaming the tension on “other powers”.

Mr Kenilorea Jr’s comments came amid unconfirmed reports the Chinese government had begun evacuating citizens from the troubled Pacific nation.

State-owned Russian media outlet Sputnik News reported that chartered flights would return expatriates to China.

Mr Sogavare’s acceptance of Beijing’s security offer, comes shortly after The Australian revealed payments from a Chinese slush fund were being used to sway MPs in support of the Prime Minister, ahead of a no-confidence vote in early December.

The motion was ultimately unsuccessful, with 32 MPs voting against it, 15 in favour and two abstaining.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradesaid: “We are aware of China’s expected engagement in the security sector in Honiara. This is a matter for the Solomon Islands Government.”

A spokesman for the federal opposition reiterated Labor’s bipartisan support for the deployment of the Australian peacekeeping force to Honiara.

“Australia has a long history of working with our Pacific neighbours in times of need,” he said. “Australia should always seek to be the partner of choice in the Pacific.”