At the end of September, the Biden administration hosted a meeting for Pacific Island leaders. One prime minister made a point of not attending—Manasseh Sogavare from the Solomon Islands. We weren’t surprised.
In August, we led a Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congressional Delegation to the Solomon Islands. Mr. Sogavare refused to meet with us as well.
Like many of our colleagues, we care deeply about the historical relationship between the United States and the Pacific Island nations. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) had the honor of serving in the Pacific Islands as an Army surgeon, and the father of Rep. Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) served with distinction in the region during World War II.
We both know the sacrifices Americans and Pacific Islanders made as they fought and died alongside each other to free the region from Imperial Japan. Echoes of the war were everywhere. The capital of the Solomons is on the island of Guadalcanal. From the hotel where we were staying, we could see Iron Bottom Sound. Bloody Ridge overlooks Henderson Field, where we landed.
China’s activity in the Pacific Islands has been in the news, and we wanted to learn from locals about the current situation, what it means for the United States, and how we could help.
The fact that none of Mr. Sogavare’s ministers would meet with us—if only to let us know what the United States could do better—was only one indication among many of how deeply the CCP’s influence has penetrated the country. It was as though the puppet masters in the Chinese Embassy had told them to stay away from us.
What Does China Want in the Pacific Islands?
What does this mean for the people of the Solomon Islands? The Chinese are not there because they want the Pacific Islanders to do well. They are there for the rankest geostrategic reasons. The ultimate goal is to absorb them into Chinese hegemony.China only offers poorly built infrastructure, bribes, and platitudes in return for the forfeiture of freedom, sovereignty, rights, and the futures of their children.
The CCP wants to use the Solomons and other islands as armed forces outposts to project the military defense of its empire, to enlarge its empire, and its dominion over the world. Incidentally, it also wants their fish and any other resources it can extract, such as timber and minerals, often with complete disregard for the environment or the rule of law.
In fact, the CCP wants Chinese Communist law to rule the Solomon Islands and elsewhere. This is not an exaggeration. While in the Solomons, we met with the family of Daniel Suidani, a popular local leader. The Sogavare government had taken away Mr. Suidani’s elected ministerial seat because he questioned China’s position on Taiwan—effectively giving Beijing a veto over the voters of the Solomons.
In many ways, the Solomon Islands shows what a democratic country looks like once communist China starts to exert widespread influence.
It has signed a security agreement with China. In typical CCP fashion, the deal was never debated in Parliament or made public. Still, according to the draft, it allowed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to come into the Solomons to put down dissent and protect Chinese citizens and major projects.
China is also sending its own police, training the Solomons police, and giving them security gear, including Chinese drones. Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands is allowing over 160 Huawei towers to be installed across the country, turbo-charging a surveillance state.
Health Care Heroes
Many people there are not getting the medical help they need. One of the most enlightening—and difficult—visits of our trip was to the main hospital in the capital, Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal. It was built on the site of an American hospital that treated the wounded of some of the most difficult battles of World War II.The hospital was in rough shape, lacking equipment and out of many critical drugs. The doctors, nurses, and staff were excellent, and their work was obviously a labor of love and commitment. We were incredibly impressed with the effort they managed with the limited resources they had. We’ve seen far richer nations do worse.
The hospital staff shouldn’t be in that position. There aren’t many people that deserve our help more. A huge amount of support goes to other places where it seems to disappear into the sand as soon as it shows up—but these people convert small resources into large health care benefits.
Even in areas where the United States is trying to help, we seem to be blocking our own efforts. One young hand surgeon told us he had been offered a scholarship to study advanced techniques in the United States, but the newly opened U.S. Embassy in the Solomon Islands doesn’t provide consular services. He would have to pay for his own flight to Papua New Guinea to apply for a U.S. visa—something he can’t afford.
This illustrates the fact that Solomon Islanders end up taking help where they can get it. China sent doctors to the hospital, and soon after we left, the PLA’s hospital ship, the Peace Ark, came into port with a very warm welcome. Solomon Islanders flocked to the ship where the PLA delivered free services and could also take DNA samples to find out the medical conditions of key leaders.
Democracy Delayed Is Democracy Denied
The people’s biggest concern is Mr. Sogavare. He is deeply unpopular domestically and has postponed elections scheduled for this year. He is using the hosting of the Pacific Games as the reason for doing so, arguing that the country can’t organize a sporting event and an election in the same year, so he chose sports over voting. The games are heavily funded by China.The delay of elections is always something we associate with rank politicization—people playing with the fortunes of their own nations for their personal reasons. A politician who is willing to focus more on himself than the people he represents should be questioned. We believe that elections are sacrosanct and should be transparent and trustworthy.
Fighting for Freedom in Solomons—Again
Americans fought—and died—across the South Pacific Islands. But we didn’t come as an empire looking for territory. We came in the name of freedom, and once the difficult job was done, we left peacefully.A leader from Bougainville told us many countries had passed through Bougainville—Germany, Australia, Japan. Only the United States came, fought, liberated, and left.
The Pacific Games start on Nov. 19. As soon as they are done, we owe it to the people of the Solomon Islands who fought alongside Guadalcanal to ensure there are speedy, free, and fair elections.
It is time for us to come back again—including election observers, church groups, aid organizations, medical missions, and more—to show our friends we will still stand by them in their fight for a better future for their children and for their freedom.