There are worries that unrest may erupt in the Solomon Islands as the current administration wants to postpone the election until next year.
MP Peter Kenilorea, a key opposition member and the son of the Solomon Islands’ first Prime Minister, believes the Chinese would send troops to aid the government in passing a difficult bill.
According to him, there is widespread opposition to the law, and there is anxiety that the government would use the government’s secret security deal with China, which allows the government to request police and military support from China.
MORE: Kiribati Drama as Authorities Try to Deport Judge
When you have the support of a country that does not respect democratic procedures, you make excellent bedfellows and support each other’s goals.
The security pact is beneficial to Beijing but detrimental to us, but when it is beneficial, it permits this government to utilise it to forward its own agenda, he stated.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare refused to speak with 1News.
The massive Chinese-funded edifice in downtown Honiara stands out, with seven major sports facilities being constructed for next year’s Pacific Games.
They include a stadium with a capacity of 10,000 people, an aquatic centre, and a tennis centre.
However, there are concerns about how the large stadiums would be maintained after the Pacific Games, as well as the project’s overall impact on the country.
Kenilorea argues that the PRC has infringed on the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands.
Because nothing comes for free, this is a huge source of anxiety for me. What are they getting out of setting up these infrastructures that we don’t know about, and what are the backroom transactions that have enabled those infrastructures, he explained.
The majority of the equipment and supplies for the Chinese-funded projects are expected to arrive at Leeroy Jetty, which is owned by a local Chinese businessman. 1News captured footage of Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group containers being unpacked.
According to the Solomon Islands Ports Authority, boats are intentionally utilising the jetty to avoid port and other taxes.
In a statement, it questioned why relevant authorities are turning a blind eye and allowing the jetty to continue international activities.
According to Dr Anna Powles, a security specialist at Massey University, there is concern that the dock has been used to transport both persons and cargo.
One example was the shipment from China of fake firearms for police training, which generated worry in the capital Honiara at the time due to the cargo’s lack of transparency.
She claims that there is a complete lack of openness, not just in the way in which items are brought in, but also in what is brought in.
Concerns have been raised by the Solomon Islands government’s attempt to postpone the election.
About Author
