The last pockets of resistance in a small Pacific nation against the encroaching influence of the regime in Beijing are being steadily eliminated by the compliant national government.
Former provincial leader Daniel Suidani, who was ousted from office in a contentious no-confidence vote in early February, is being forced to explain why he isn’t a foreign agent or risk being barred from holding office.
Suidani has been a consistent thorn in the side of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare because of his opposition to deeper ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The issue has been problematic for Sogavare since he switched official diplomatic ties to Beijing from Taiwan in 2019.
Seleso said he reached that conclusion after he “perused statements” made by Suidani in various newspapers and on television.
He also claimed Suidani made repeated statements that he wouldn’t recognise the 2019 diplomatic switch, that he was “recognising Chinese Taipei over the decision of a democratically elected government” and that he was “inciting disharmony and dissatisfaction” against the national government.
“I advise that foreign policy or diplomatic recognition is not within the legislative competence of any provincial government or within the ambit of the [Provincial Government Act],” Seleso wrote.
He said Suidani had seven days to show cause or he would be disqualified from ever rejoining the Malaita Provincial Assembly.
Suidani has left the country for his own safety.
Suidani Says Claims of Foreign Allegiance False
Suidani wrote an extensive response to the minister, saying his claims weren’t grounded in fact and misinterpreted the law.“Your letter also did not explain or mention specific statements I made and the publication platform to establish how the foreign power had compelled me to show loyalty or patriotism,” he wrote.
“Ironically your use of the term ‘Chinese Taipei’ is itself a demonstration of the language mandated by the [People’s Republic of China (PRC)]. Is this not a demonstration that you, Honourable Minister, are obeying PRC, thereby showing allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power or state?” he added.
“I should not be disqualified from being a member of the Malaita Provincial Assembly for exercising my freedom of expression in support of democratic principles and values and legal safeguards.”
The premier was ousted from power on Feb. 7 after a third no-confidence vote was lodged against him; however, this time, the premier and his executive weren’t present because they were held up in court.
“Only the 17 of them were attending the meeting, and then the motion was moved, and it was passed, and the premier therefore lost,” Suidani adviser Celsus Talifilu said.
Since gaining power, Premier Martin Fini has been seeking to discard the Auki Communique—a document implemented by Suidani after the Solomons switched ties to Beijing—according to sources.
The Auki Communique includes 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.
US, Democratic Allies Competing for South Pacific
The United States, Australia, and New Zealand have pushed hard into the South Pacific in recent years to fend off Beijing’s encroaching influence with pledges of extra aid, diplomatic engagement, and security support.The region has been a hotspot for geopolitical competition due to its crucial strategic location.
Yet one of the difficulties has been the sheer number of Pacific nations (over 20) requiring engagement and trying to out-compete Beijing.
Thus far, the results have been mixed.
While the election of Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was seemingly a setback for Beijing, ties with the CCP continue to grow stronger with other countries, such as the Solomons and Vanuatu.
