STATUS OF SOLOMON ISLAND

• The Solomon Islands were initially controlled by the British Empire during the colonial
• It was under the control of Germany and Japan and then back to the U.K. after the Americans took over the islands from the Japanese during World War
• These islands became independent in
• Post 1993 era, the country was rife with ethnic unrest and military conflict between several armed groups, ultimately resulting in a coup that brought present Prime Minister Sogavare to power for the first
• However, its economy is in near-collapse, and with the rampant prevalence of ethnic clashes, the Solomon Island government seeks the help of Australia to stabilize state
• Australia’s assistance called Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI)finally deployed troops, and a state of stability was eventually
• Recently, there have been growing concerns about PM Sogavare’s closeness with
• In 2019, after he was elected again as Prime Minister, he framed the country’s diplomatic relations in favor of China and cut Taiwan relations which were hitherto
• Earlier, in 1975 only Fijire cognized the PRC’s One China policy, but now all islands except Marshall, Palau, Tuvalu, and Nauru have recognized the One China

REASONS FOR CHINA’S INTEREST IN SOLOMON ISLAND

1. Strategic location:
   • To counter the western alliance in the form of AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United State).
   • To block vital shipping lanes as most of the international shipping moves from East to West through this
2. Extensive Exclusive Economic Zones
   • Southern pacific islands have large maritime exclusive economic zones when compared to their geographical
3. A Vote Bank
   • Small Pacific island states act as potential vote banks for mobilizing support in international fora like the United
4. Foreign diplomacy
   • Recognition of the People’s Republic of China instead of Taiwan by the pacific islands strengthens the One China
5. Economic reasons
   • Presence of ocean resources such as minerals, fisheries,

PROVISIONS UNDER CHINA SOLOMON SECURITY PACT

1. Enables China to send its “police, armed police, military personnel, and other law enforcement and armed forces”:

• To assist the Solomon Islands against the political
• To secure social order and maintain the lives and livelihoods of the people of the

2. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations (HADR) by China as these regions are frequently experiencing the wrath of climate
3. Logistics-related agreement provides China’s naval vessels to utilize the islands for logistics
   • Naval vessels can visit, and halt on the island’s
   • China can have a stopover for their warships on the Solomon
4. Chinese presence

• For the safety of its projects and personnel in the islands on similar lines at Cambodia, Pakistan on China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Djibouti, Equatorial
• To control and influence Choking points and shipping

CHINESE VISION OF PACIFIC- ISLAND NATIONS

To maintain good relations with the entire 14 Pacific island countries, China has come up with a vision statement:

1. China pacific Island countries’ common development vision
2. China pacific island 5-year Action plan on common

CHINA’S CLAIM ABOUT ITS MOVE

• Western imperialism: Growing influence of USA through QUAD,AUKUS in the pacific
• Freedom of Navigation: legally claiming their own freedom of navigation through pacts with
• America has a military base on Guam in the southern pacific

IMPLICATIONS GLOBALLY

1. Regional security challenges
   • Direct confrontation with AUKUS as china reiterates its stronghold interest in the southern Pacific
   • Indirect effect on QUAD –against the freedom of navigation and identification of unauthorized and illegal shipping in the
   • In the future, Military bases can be an ultimate motive for the present HADR interests of
2. Imperialistic Attitude
   • Debt trap diplomacy of China will challenge the sovereignty of island states which is giving an unethical message to the world

ON INDIA

1. Indirect impact
   • A green signal for China to expand its expansionist rise on similar lines to String of Pearls in the Indian Ocean Region

CONCLUSION

 The unprecedented pact raises concern over the security and stability of the southern pacific region. International collaboration is needed to contain the hegemony of China. India should prioritize its own national interests and abide by the principles of panchasheel- “Non-interference “in the internal affairs of other countries.