How One Renegade Province in the Pacific Is Standing Up to Beijing’s Pressure, Bribes, Belt and Road

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (R) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect honour guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2019. Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

In September 2019, two Pacific nations—the Solomon Islands and Kiribati—decided to drop diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The move was the latest step in the Beijing regime’s continuing efforts to chip away at Taiwan’s international standing.

In the face of the Solomon Islands’ national government’s decision, Daniel Suidani, the premier of the Islands’ most populous region, Malaita Province, has continued to stand firm in his support for Taiwan, despite pressure from federal colleagues and Beijing.