Chinese takeover in Solomon Islands was preventable

I try to write stories that have a shelf life beyond a few days. An Asia Times article from November 27, 2021, “US misses golden opportunity in the Solomon Islands,” qualifies.

The national elections have finished and the provincial elections are in their final stages.

People voted for change.

China’s man, former Prime Minister Sogavare, didn’t run for his old post – although he retained his seat in parliament (albeit by a very small margin) and can still be in the new cabinet. Chinese money is now ensuring the Sogavare successor government – with a Sogavare protégé as Prime Minister – continues in power. And huge amounts of money are now being directed to the provinces to buy China-friendly parliamentarians to take over. It’s ultimately a test of morality. And too often Chinese cash wins out.

The Australians and the Americans stand by transfixed – while corruption and subversion continue.

There is no downside to taking Chinese money.

I wrote a couple years ago that this financial “juice” is the lynchpin of Chinese influence efforts in the Solomons (and elsewhere) – and, if it is not addressed, honest and democratic forces will be smothered.

The Australians and the Americans – even the French (a French bank gave Sogavare inexplicable mortgages to grow his property empire) – could have done something. They didn’t.

The Americans belatedly put in a two-man Embassy in Honiara a couple years back, after 30 years of diplomatic malfeasance – outsourcing US interests in Solomon Islands to the Australians, who performed abysmally.

Anyone who had position (and presumably responsibility) in Washington and Canberra for ensuring this oncoming Chinese takeover didn’t happen ought to be ashamed. Save the excuses and passing of