Solomon Islands Voters Go to Polls With China’s Influence in Focus

A man drops his ballot paper into the box as general elections polling starts in Honiara, capital city of the Solomon Islands, on April 17, 2024. Saeed KHAN / AFP

Solomon Islanders began voting Wednesday in an election that could reshape regional security, with citizens effectively choosing if their Pacific nation will deepen ties with China.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has pledged to further bolster relations with Beijing if he is re-elected, while his main challengers want to wind back China’s growing influence.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Agence France-Presse

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
3
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington
4
Chinese-Moroccan Joint Venture Inaugurates EV Battery Parts Plant
5
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Appoints “Tiger-Fighter’ as New Leader
6
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity

You Might Like

Solomon Islands Readies for Election in Shadow of China’s Influence

By Steven Trask Solomon Islanders will head to the polls this week, voting in an election that promises to bolster or blunt China’s regional ambitions, with security consequences that will ripple far beyond ...

Solomons’ PM Contender Vows to Abolish China Security Pact

A leading contender to become the Solomon Islands’ next prime minister has vowed to renounce a security pact with China as the Pacific nation begins counting votes Thursday in a pivotal general election. ...

Pro-China Local Leader Ousted in Solomon Islands Election: Early Results

Beijing’s bid to build influence across the Solomon Islands hit a major snag Friday, with the pro-China premier of the Pacific nation’s most populous province set to lose his seat in country-wide elections. ...

Solomon Islands Readies for Post-Election Bartering With China in View

Political leaders in the Solomon Islands began trickling into the capital from far-flung villages on Saturday, preparing for post-election coalition negotiations that could alter China’s fate in the Pacific nation. Incumbent Prime Minister ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP