U.S. and Australian efforts to outcompete the regime in Beijing toward winning over the Solomon Islands look to be on the ropes after the most-populous province in the country pledged to end the Auki Communique, a bulwark against Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference in the region.
New Malaita Province Premier Martin Fini is considering removing the document after his government wrested power from former premier—and staunch critic of Beijing—Daniel Suidani, who was swept from office in a contentious no-confidence vote.
“We will shelve it. This will signal that Malaita will be open to investors from everywhere. The people of Malaita need development, and as their representative government, we will facilitate it.”
Province Takes Stand Against Beijing
The Auki Communique was issued under former provincial Malaita leader Suidani in 2019, in response to the national government’s decision to switch official diplomatic ties to Beijing from Taiwan.Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has since ratcheted up business, security, and military cooperation with Beijing, while also openly taking aid from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Auki Communique contained several clauses designed to fend off Chinese interference or influence in Malaita.
“[Malaita Provincial Government] specifically observed the need to be free from unwarranted interference of persons and therefore reject any notion of a police state,” Clause 5 of the document reads.
“MPG acknowledges the freedom of religion as a fundamental right and further observes the entrenched Christian faith and the belief in God by Malaitan and [Malaita Outer Islands] peoples and therefore rejects the [CCP] and its formal systems based on atheist ideology,” Clause 7 reads.
It also pointed to problems with the national government’s approach to the development of Malaita.
Under the agreement, then-Premier Suidani blocked the redesign and construction of Fiu Bridge, as well as tar-sealing work to be done in Auki township, on the basis that a Chinese engineering firm had won the bid.
The Solomon Star reported that the new Malaita government will visit the national capital Honiara to discuss ways of fast-tracking the development, while also taking aim at Suidani adviser Celsus Talifilu.
Suidani Ousted Under Contentious Circumstances
On Feb. 7, Suidani was ousted by 17 assembly members of the provincial assembly in a no-confidence vote. Talifilu said the premier and his executive weren’t present at the vote because they were awaiting the results of a court case against the no-confidence motion.“Only the 17 of them were attending the meeting, and then the motion was moved, and it was passed, and the premier therefore lost.”
Scuffles erupted outside the assembly in protest of the vote. In turn, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) fired tear gas into the crowd.
The RSIPF was deployed to the area in advance of the vote, with authorities anticipating an angry response.
“National government using overwhelming police power to get Sudani out,“ Talifilu wrote on LinkedIn. “Security support from donors like Australia and China now put to use.”
The Solomon Islands are a strategically important point in the Pacific. They are a key blocking island chain that restricts maritime movement both in and out of the Australia region: for Australia’s trade, as well as for potential Australian naval aid to Taiwan, U.S. aid to Australia, or incoming Chinese forces.
