Solomon Islands and China’s Security Pact: Why is the West Complaining?

The Solomon Islands is in the process of working out a security pact with China which would allow Chinese police and soldiers to help maintain order in the country upon request. The West has decried this deal as a sign of growing Chinese influence, but fail to point out the context within which this pact is necessary for both the Solomon Islands and China.

It has been the US, Australia, and Taiwan who have undermined the peace, stability, and security of the Solomon Islands for years, forcing Honiara to find a more reliable security partner. China is already a reliable and important economic partner, thus Honiara believes China will make a suitable security partner.

References:

Anne Powles (Twitter) – The draft security cooperation agreement between China and Solomon Islands:
https://twitter.com/AnnaPowles/status…

SCMP – News of China’s security pact with Solomon Islands generates suspicion, offence and backtrack:
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplo…

Guardian – Solomon Islands unrest: three bodies found in burnt-out building (2021):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202…

Multipolarista – New cold war neocolonialism: West threatens Solomon Islands over China alliance:
https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/29…

New China TV – Solomon Islands’ PM: All sensible leaders must acknowledge existence of China (2019):
https://youtu.be/OJ_HlGMUf6A

The Diplomat – Taiwan Must Avoid Pouring Fuel on Solomon Islands Fire (2021):
https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/taiwa…

The Diplomat – US Aid Pledge to Pro-Taiwan Solomon Islands Province Raises Eyebrows (2020):
https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/us-ai…

Harvard University, Atlas of Economic Complexity – Solomon Islands (2019):
https://atlas.cid.harvard.edu/explore…

ABC (Australia) – The US denies geopolitical motives are behind a massive aid increase to the Solomon Islands’ Malaita province (2020):
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-1…

ABC (Australia) – Solomon Islands joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as leaders meet in Beijing (2019):
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-1…

Wikileaks – IV PROGRAM FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS (1976):
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/19…