Solomons turns to China for riot help

The Solomon Islands has accepted China’s help in defusing months-long riots, a move that threatens to spark diplomatic troubles for Australia.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

The Solomon Islands has accepted China’s help in defusing months-long riots on the streets of Honiara, a move that threatens to inflame domestic tensions and spark diplomatic troubles for Australia.

The Solomon Islands government announced on Thursday that Chinese police officers and equipment would be installed to help train members of the Solomon Islands police force.

China’s involvement comes after the Australian government deployed 73 Australian Federal Police and 43 Australian Defence Force personnel to the country in November, following a request from the nation’s Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

Ongoing civil unrest in Honiara is understood to be fuelled by economic issues and the Sogavare government’s decision to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China in 2019.

The Australian revealed this month that payments from a ­Chinese slush fund were used to lock in the support of MPs for Mr Sogavare, ahead of a no-­confidence motion in his ­leadership. The motion was unsuccessful, with 32 MPs voting against it, 15 in favour and two abstaining

In a statement on Thursday, the Solomon Islands government said China would help to bolster support during the riots by offering specialised equipment such as shields, helmets and batons.

Chinese police officers would also provide training to members of the Solomon Islands police force under existing bilateral assistance.

“The government has agreed to accept the People’s Republic of China’s offer of riot equipment and six police liaison officers to equip and train (the) Royal Solomon Islands Police Force with the skill sets complementing ongoing training received under existing bilateral assistance,” the statement said. “This riot equipment that will be flown into the country includes shields, helmets, batons and other non-lethal gear that will further enhance Solomon Islands Police ability in confronting future threats.”

A building burns in Honiara in November. Picture: AFP

The government said it was aware of the urgent need to bolster its domestic policing capability to respond to future unrest, noting it was the second major riot since 2006.

China has sought to extend its influence in the South Pacific through its Belt and Road Initiative, a multi-trillion-dollar bid to direct global trade through mainland China. After China promised to build a multi-million-dollar stadium in the Solomon Islands, Chinese companies were granted the right to build infrastructure in the country, including roads and bridges.

Mr Sogavare – a longtime critic of Australia – has downplayed the country’s growing political ties with China as being the sole source of domestic unrest, insisting that “other powers” were the source of political tension.

Australian peacekeepers were sent in November to restore security and stability following reports businesses and private buildings were being looted and torched. Announcing the deployment, Scott Morrison stressed the deployment would not “in any way” intervene in the nation’s domestic politics.

Australia-China relations have been strained since the Morrison government led calls for an inquiry into the source of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Beijing has retaliated with a series of trade sanctions against Australia since May last year.