How One Renegade Province in the Pacific Is Standing Up to Beijing's Pressure, Bribes, Belt and Road

In the face of the Solomon Islands' national government's decision, Daniel Suidani, the premier of the Islands' most populous region, Malaita Province, has continued to stand firm in his support for Taiwan, despite pressure from federal colleagues and Beijing.

The prospect of Beijing interfering in the Solomon Islands' democracy didn't dampen Suidani's resistance.

The move sparked a strong response from the Solomon Islands foreign affairs minister and the local Chinese embassy, particularly for referring to Taiwan as the Republic of China, which implies that the island is a self-governing entity separate from Beijing.

With the Solomon Islands and Kiribati choosing to align with Beijing, the remaining South Pacific island nations to retain diplomatic relations with Taiwan are Tuvalu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, and Palau.

Efforts to isolate Taiwan on the diplomatic world stage come as Beijing continues its soft power push into the region via propaganda, foreign aid, and infrastructure investment under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Taiwan Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu has warned that Beijing could eventually militarize the South Pacific beyond foreign aid and diplomatic relations, transforming it into "Another South China Sea.".

"We have seen reports that China is interested in reopening this radar station in Kiribati and building a naval base in the Western Province of Solomon Islands," he said during the 2019 Pacific Islands Dialogue.
 

https://www.theepochtimes.com/how-one-renegade-province-in-the-pacific-is-standing-up-to-beijings-pressure-bribes-belt-and-road_3762162.html