Update: China seals so-called ‘police’ deal with the Solomon Islands

(Photo credit: Photographer Jim Lounsbury, Aerial view of the Solomon Islands, 2010. Copyright holder allows use of this photo).

Months ago, it was reported that China was pressing the tiny nation of the Solomon Islands to sign a “policing pact,” which has led to worries in the region, particularly in Australia which already had such an agreement with the Solomons.

A major component to reach this deal was that the Solomon Islands pulled out of its cooperation agreement with Taiwan and switched to the People’s Republic of China.

Prior to signing multiple related agreements, the Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare inexplicably sought a review of a security treaty with Australia to provide police support. Now we know why. With this new agreement, China will provide police support.

What was not said prominently is what the nation of about 700,000 received in return. No one can doubt that quantities of money are part of this transaction. (As a not-so-incidental aside, China paid for and built a new Solomon Islands’ national stadium, “paying for the $50 million project”).

Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Solomons Prime Minister Sogavare, China “supports more investing (in the Solomons)…and…provide(s) economic and technical assistance, ‘without political strings attached.’”

Also not specifically said, but what is clear, is that the Solomons are home to enough land for a Chinese military base and deep-water port facilities that can support significant numbers of Chinese naval and commercial vessels.

In its quest for gaining dominance of the Pacific as articulated in its Great Rejuvenation of 2049, the purpose of which as described in the U.S. Department of Defense’s Military and Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China, 2021, China seeks “…by 2049 to match or surpass U.S. global influence and power, displace U.S. alliances and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, and revise the international order…”

Australia, a nation that on its own would likely never fall willingly into China’s sphere of influence, understands that by basing troops or even having a significant port, only about 1200 miles off its northeastern shores China can exert increasing pressure on Australia for more favorable positions on Chinese interests.

For its part to push back on the Chinese inroads in the Solomons, Australia “announced a $25 million assistance package for Solomon Islands’ elections” in 2024. It remains to be seen whether Australia is able to successfully compete for favorable conditions against a Chinese government that is willing to offer significant resources to their efforts.

And why is this development important? The aforementioned potential for port use (likely ownership) and military basing and proximity to Australia, an approach from the west to Guam (though nearly 2,000 miles away), and a surrounding effect on Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam. It also is likely a warning to the other small nations in the region of the lengths China will pursue to win their acquiescence.

We also cannot forget China’s designs on the free nation of Taiwan. The more bases from which to operate in the region, the more difficult it will be for Taiwan to defend itself, and for others to support it should combat become necessary.

In the Solomons, while Sogavare has expressed no interest in military uses of his islands, it is obvious that the pressure China can exert by its entangling agreements is immense. While basing will likely not occur in the coming months, the Chinese have a much longer view.

Undoubtedly for China, the moves in the Solomon Islands are merely an early step in expansion for multiple purposes in the Pacific, which Xi considers his domain. (Apparently overlooking the fact that U.S. is also a Pacific nation).

The U.S. reestablished an embassy in the Solomons after a 30-year absence. It is clear the race is on for winning influence and ensuring the democracy of the Solomons remain intact in the face of a totalitarian China intent on gaining domination.

We cannot let this latest action by the Chinese regime go unnoticed or unanswered. The independence of countries in the region depends on coordinated and persistent efforts for their continued freedom.

James Hutton is a former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army. Follow him on Twitter @jehutton