China and the Solomon Islands have taken a significant step in strengthening their relationship by signing a police cooperation agreement. This move comes four years after the Solomon Islands switched its diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China. The signing of this pact, along with eight other deals, marks the upgrade of their relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing to solidify this new phase in their bilateral ties.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Li expressed his satisfaction with the rapid development of the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands over the past four years, emphasizing its fruitful nature. Sogavare, in turn, expressed gratitude towards China for its contributions to addressing global challenges, particularly in the areas of peace and sustainable development. He acknowledged that his country has much to learn from China’s experiences.
The Solomon Islands’ shift in diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2019 sparked concern among neighboring countries, including the United States and Australia. Last year, the two nations even entered into a security pact, raising further alarms. Sogavare’s current visit to China marks his first since the security pact’s establishment.
Australia has historically provided policing support to the Solomon Islands, including deploying police forces in 2021 to address riots. However, China has been expanding its police training efforts in the region. In light of this, China has committed to continuing its support and assistance to the Solomon Islands, aiming to enhance the nation’s law enforcement capabilities.
A joint statement released by China’s official Xinhua news agency emphasizes China’s commitment to supporting the Solomon Islands in strengthening its law enforcement capacity. Furthermore, the statement urges “relevant countries” to handle issues such as nuclear-contaminated water discharge and cooperation on nuclear submarines with caution. This statement serves as a veiled reference to Japan and the AUKUS alliance, which includes Australia, the United States, and Britain.
