CNA Explains: Why does the national election in tiny Solomon Islands matter for the rest of the world?

Crowds gathering outside polling places when the Solomon Islands election began on April 17, 2024. The election outcome in the Solomon Islands , which has a population of around 700,000, will be closely watched by the United States , China and Australia for its potential impact on security in the region.This election is the nation’s first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing soon after assuming the role in 2019.

“For China, they're trying to win support for their One China policy. They want global access and there some very valuable assets and resources like fisheries and minerals in this region,” she added. His government signed a secretive security cooperation pact with China two years ago, shocking the US and Australia and fuelling unease about Beijing’s influence in the Pacific. But Mr Sogavare rejected suggestions this might give China a military foothold in the region.

Dr Keen said these other candidates feel there should be a greater focus on development issues and on service provision rather than geopolitics, and that they fear closer relations with China are affecting the transparency of government and sovereignty issues. To prepare for the prospect of post-election violence, a temporary steel fence has been erected around the Chinese embassy. Local police are also getting help from officers from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea on the ground.

“The next step, which is where the real kind of work gets done, is a lot more opaque. It's kind of done behind closed doors … where the horse trading and the offers and the counter offers come into play.”

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