Solomon Islands Government Ousts Provincial Leader, Long-Time Critic of CCP

Police fire teargas to control protests

An image of an armoured police vehicle gifted to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force under by the Australian Defence Force during a gifting ceremony in Honiara, Solomon Islands on Nov. 2, 2022. (Courtesy of the Australian Federal Police)

The pro-Beijing Solomons national government has finally got its man.

Daniel Suidani, the premier of the most populous Malaita Province, has, for years, been a political hurdle standing in the way of closer ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

On Feb. 7, Suidani faced another no-confidence vote against his leadership, and this time, the dissenters were successful, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Around 17 assembly members voted for Suidani’s removal from office.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, right, locks arms with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on May 26, 2022. (Xinhua via AP)

The premier attempted to file an appeal in the High Court to stop the vote, but the assembly denied receiving any notice of such an action.

Scuffles erupted outside the provincial assembly in protest of the vote. In turn, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) fired tear gas into the crowd.

The RSIPF was deployed to the area in advance of the vote, with authorities anticipating an angry response from locals.

“National government using overwhelming police power to get Sudani out,” wrote Celsus Talifilu on LinkedIn. “Security support from donors like Australia and China now put to use.

“The outcome of the motion is already set. The final act is the case that will be heard in the High Court this morning.”

There was an earlier attempt to oust Suidani in October 2021, however, locals physically blocked the entrance of the Parliament to prevent the motion from being tabled.

The Rebel Province Holding Out Against Beijing’s Encroaching Influence

The Malaita leadership has been at odds with the national government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare since its decision to switch diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019.

Since then, Sogavare has steadily tightened relations with Beijing amid allegations of bribery of pro-Beijing MPs.

Efforts from Beijing crystallised in April 2022 when a secret agreement—leaked publicly—would open the door for the CCP the option to station troops, weapons, and naval ships in the country.

At the same time, Suidani had continued to criticise the Sogavare government while maintaining closer ties with Taiwan and accepting U.S. aid.

The tensions, as well as accusations of poor governance and corruption under Sogavare, came to a head in November 2021 when protests—featuring Malaitan locals—erupted in the Solomon Island capital of Honiara, resulting in the razing of the Chinatown District.

Anti-government message adorns a burnt-out building in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 27, 2021. (Charley Piringi/AFP via Getty Images)

In response, neighbouring democratic governments like Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand deployed police to help stabilise the region.

Yet the move was soon followed by Beijing, which began sending police and weapons to also help ensure the “stability” of the Solomons.

This led to a diplomatic arms race between democratic nations and Beijing, which included ramping up aid support, increasing the diplomatic presence in the region, funding the Pacific Games, and in Australia’s case, gifting police vehicles and weapons.

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• Australia Speeds up Solomon Islands Project Amid Expanding Beijing Influence

More recently, the United States opened an Embassy in the capital Honiara.

Critics have warned against such a strategy by democratic governments.

“Canberra is in an elite capture race with China that it will lose,” said Cleo Paskal, a South Pacific expert, in an interview with The Epoch Times.

“It’s not going to be able to bribe more, send more weapons, and give international cover to someone who seems on track to kill his fellow citizens [Prime Minister Sogavare]. That’s China’s thing, not Australia’s (one hopes).”

Paskal has hypothesized that Sogavare is gearing up for a crackdown—or outright civil war—on dissidents in the Solomon Islands to consolidate power.

The prime minister has already delayed elections citing the government’s resources were limited due to hosting the Pacific Games.