Dec 1, Reuters - The civil unrest in the Solomon Islands in the past week has alarmed leaders of other Pacific island nations that rivalry between China, Taiwan and the United States has exacerbated their social and economic problems.
What is happening in the Solomons is something we all should be paying attention to because it can happen at any time, said former Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Meg Taylor, who spoke at the Reuters Next conference on Wednesday.
Taylor said resource exploitation, uneven wealth distribution and unfair treatment of locals versus foreigners were all factors behind the unrest in the Solomons and that there was growing competition between the big powers for influence over some of the world's smallest nations.
Hundreds of buildings were burned down and shops looted in the Chinatown neighborhood of Honiara, the Solomons capital during the violence. Many protesters were from Malaita province who opposed the switch by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's government in 2019 to recognise China instead of Taiwan. Malaita's premier, Daniel Suidani, has banned Chinese companies from the province while accepting development aid from the United States.
Washington has been alarmed by China's efforts to win over Taiwan's friends. The Solomon Islands and the Pacific island nations Kiribati and the Solomon Islands were the last countries to cut ties with Taipei in September 2019, leaving Chinese-claimed Taiwan with formal diplomatic ties to just 15 countries.
Former Kiribati president Anote Tong said there was no doubt that what is happening is part of the superpower rivalry.
He said Kiribati, with a population of barely 120,000, could face similar issues to the Solomons, as there were already expressions of discontent when it switched ties from Taiwan to China.
There is a feeling that the change of relations with China and kicking out Taiwan was not very popular with the people, Tong said.
Micronesia President David Panuelo said his government has carefully balanced relations with the United States and China to avoid being sandwiched in their rivalry.
He said to the U.S. and China that they can compete on a healthy basis in the region, and that the big powers should not become disruptive influences.
There is now heightened interest in the region from major powers, including the European Union, and they all expect something in return, Taylor said.
She said that everyone comes with price tags.
I can see this beginning to emerge now with the bases - the U.S. is going to establish bases throughout the region.