How to Interpret 2022: Solomon Islands strikes a deal | Lowy Institute
Published 27 Dec 2022 China Australia Pacific Islands – Follow ClareECaldwell
Honiara’s foreign policy caused ripples across the region, as we round up highlights of the year from The Interpreter.
Rarely have the affections of a sparsely populated archipelagic state been so wooed as those of Solomon Islands – the string of southwest Pacific isles sitting 2,000 kilometres off the coast of Australia and 7,000 kilometres from China.
In August last year, rumours started circulating that Honiara and Beijing were negotiating an agreement under which China would send security personnel and possibly base naval vessels in Solomon Islands ports. Some of the rumours turned out to be true. Following riots in November 2021, Solomon Islands announced it would accept China’s offer of six police advisers and a swag of emergency riot equipment, which came hot on the heels of Australia providing military and police to Honiara.
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