Australian prime minister defends his country's ties to Solomons
NPR Online NewsNov 25, 2021
Solomon Islands Suspends Foreign Navy Ships Visits
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Image copyright: Solomon Islands Ports Authority
The Facts
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister's office has reportedly temporarily banned all naval visits until protocol procedures are refined, allegedly to improve control over its exclusive economic zones.
This comes a week after a US Coast Guard cutter, the Oliver Henry, and the British HMS Spey had to abort a routine port call as the island's government reportedly failed to answer their requests to refuel and reprovision.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
The latest developments in the Solomon Islands are a clear indication that the growing Chinese influence in the South Pacific nation is meant to favor authoritarianism. Western countries' navy ships have been barred from docking in its ports, foreign journalists have been threatened and attacked by government officials, and the PM is pushing to postpone the elections.
Pro-China narrative
Although Western media and governments are trying to use this episode to promote anti-China rhetoric, the truth is that Solomoners don't want to be a pawn in the US's geopolitical game in the Pacific. While China cooperates transparently with Pacific nations to address urgent climate and development challenges, the West can only offer militarization and demands.
