To many observers, the South Pacific today reveals what American decline looks like. Even as Washington tries to step up its game, it is still far behind, mistaking speeches for impact and interest for influence.
Tag: Solomon Islands
China Seeks Sweeping Regional Deal With Pacific Island Countries
Newly obtained documents shed light on how Beijing hopes to win friends and gain influence in an area of strategic importance.
Why China’s Security Pact With the Solomon Islands is a Threat
In potentially opening the door to a Chinese military base, the Solomon Islands threatens the balance of power in a vital shipping region.
Solomon Islands’ Leader Calls Concern Over China Security Deal ‘Insulting’
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare criticized Australia and New Zealand as assuming that the island nation could not act in its own best interests.
China and Solomon Islands Draft Secret Security Pact
The leaked agreement, if signed, could help the Chinese Navy block shipping routes that played a vital role in World War II.
Blinken Says U.S. Has a ‘Long-Term Future’ in the Pacific Islands
The secretary of state promised a new embassy in the Solomon Islands and help on issues like climate change, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region.
Solomon Islands Protests: 3 Burned Bodies Found in Chinatown
The police were trying to determine if the charred remains found in the capital’s Chinatown district were linked to the protests, in which demonstrators set fire to buildings.
Solomon Islands: Here’s What’s Behind the Unrest
Protesters tried to storm the prime minister’s residence, and he blamed the central government’s 2019 decision to switch allegiances to Beijing from Taipei for the violence.
Some Pacific Nations Won’t Vaccinate Populations for Years, Research Predicts
Papua New Guinea will have vaccinated only a third of its adult population by 2026 if it continues at its current rate, according to an Australian think tank.
2 Men Working to Map World War II Bombs Are Killed by One
The aid workers had taken the device to the home they were sharing in the Solomon Islands, a country littered with unexploded ordnance.