PM Manasseh Sogavare tells UNGA his country received “a barrage of intimidation” since formalising relations with Beijing, adding Solomons will not be coerced into choosing sides.
The prime minister
of the Solomon Islands has complained that his country had
been subjected to “a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced
criticisms, misinformation and intimidation” since formalising
diplomatic ties with China in 2019.
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New
York on Friday, Manasseh Damukana Sogavare said the Solomons had been “unfairly targeted” and “vilified” in the media. He said such
treatment “threatens our democracy and sovereignty.”
The Solomons formerly had diplomatic relations with
Taiwan but switched recognition
to Beijing in 2019. It has since appeared to move ever closer
into China’s orbit, to the alarm of the United States and other
Western countries concerned about Beijing’s influence in
the Pacific.
“This decision was reached through democratic processes by a
democratically elected government,” Sogavare said of the
recognition of China. “I reiterate the call for all to respect
our sovereignty and democracy.”
Sogavare said the Solomon Islands had adopted “a ‘friends to
all and enemies to none’ foreign policy.”
“In implementing this policy, we will not align ourselves
with any external power(s) or security architecture that targets
our or any other sovereign country or threaten regional and
international peace.
The Solomon Islands will not be coerced into
choosing sides,” he said.
“Our struggle is to develop our country. We stretch out our
hand of friendship and seek genuine and honest cooperation and
partnership with all.”
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US vows more engagement with Pacific islands amid Chinese influence
New theatre of geopolitics
The Pacific islands region has become a new theatre of
geopolitical competition between China and the United States and
its allies.
The Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China in April, and it raised concerns from the US and its allies that Beijing may be seeking a military outpost in the South Pacific, an area of traditional American naval dominance.
Sogavare has since repeatedly appeared to snub the United
States, heightening Washington’s concerns.
Last month he skipped a planned appearance with a senior
US official at a World War Two commemoration. His government
then did not respond to a US Coast Guard vessel’s request to
refuel and then announced he was barring all foreign navy ships
from port –– while he was welcoming a US Navy hospital ship on
a humanitarian mission.
Sogavare has been invited to take part next week in a summit
that US President Joe Biden will host with Pacific island
leaders, through which Washington aims to show a stepped-up commitment to the Pacific region.
Biden’s chief policy coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, Kurt
Campbell, said this week he looked forward to conversations with
Sogavare and said the Solomons would benefit from a variety of
planned new initiatives.
However, he added: “We’ve also been clear about what our
concerns are and we would not want to see … a capacity for
long-range power projection.”
Beijing and Honiara have said there will be no Chinese
military base under the security pact, although a leaked draft
refers to Chinese naval ships replenishing in the strategically
located archipelago.
The prime minister also called on wealthy countries, asking them to support nations that are most impacted by the effects of global heating.
He said it’s “extremely unfortunate” that more resources are spent on wars than on the climate emergency.
READ MORE:
Biden to host Pacific Island leaders with eyes on China
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Solomons leader complains of ‘vilification’ after ties with China
Source: News Achor Trending
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