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‘No doubt’ pro-China interests meddling in Solomon Islands elections, opposition figure claims

  • ‘There is no doubt that they must be involved in elections. Because they have been doing it for some time,’ said former Malaita premier Daniel Suidani
  • A torrent of Chinese aid and investment has flowed into the Pacific nation under PM Manasseh Sogavare’s tenure. He seeks re-election this week

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Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (right) and China’s Premier Li Qiang inspect a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in July last year. Photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse
China’s growing hold over Pacific nation Solomon Islands is “alarming”, a powerful opposition figurehead said on Monday ahead of elections that could further entrench Beijing’s foothold in the region.
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Solomon Islands has warmly embraced China under mercurial Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, with the two nations inking a murky security pact in 2022.

A torrent of Chinese aid and investment has flowed into the country during Sogavare’s five years at the helm, and the 69-year-old has vowed to further deepen these ties if re-elected on Wednesday.

“During these past five years, there have been so many things that China was involved in. It’s really alarming at the moment,” Daniel Suidani said in an exclusive interview.

Suidani, the former premier of the most populous island Malaita, said he was troubled by what he believed was Beijing’s corrosive impact on democracy.

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Fearful its money could one day come with strings attached, Suidani was one of the rare provincial leaders who refused to cash China’s cheques.

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