China - A Pillar of Peace and Stability for Pacific Island Countries
In late November 2021, large-scale anti-government riots broke out in Solomon Islands, causing serious economic losses and bringing severe impact on Chinese who lived there, which garnered widespread attention at home and abroad. Shortly after the riots, the Chinese government announced that it would provide a batch of emergency riot equipment for the police at the request of the government of Solomon Islands, and send an ad-hoc police liaison team to help Solomon Islands police to improve their anti-riot and law enforcement capabilities. Obviously, the government of Solomon Islands realized that in order to maintain long-term domestic stability, it was urgent to strengthen capacity-building of police force. China is the one Solomon Islands thought about and asked for help at the very moment. As good friend and genuine partner of Solomon Islands, China responded positively in no time. On December 29th, the first batch of police supplies assisted by China arrived at the airport of Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands, and was warmly welcomed by the Acting Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services of the country and many senior officials.
However, while the government and people of Solomon Islands are eagerly looking forward to China's constructive role in restoring social order, some western media have hyped up China's "expansion" and "threat" in the South Pacific region and linked the riots with the diplomatic ties between China and Solomon Islands. So, how was China involved in the riots in Solomon Islands?
China is the main victim of the riots, and the international community is well aware of who is behind the riots.
The riots have had a grave impact on the economic and social development of Solomon Islands, among which the Chinese community was the most severely affected. The Chinatown in Honiara was torched. Chinese shops suffered heavy losses due to vandalism, looting and burning. Hundreds of overseas Chinese were homeless and displaced. Even the Chinese Embassy was once under severe security threat. According to preliminary estimates, the riots caused various economic losses of at least $28 million, further deteriorated the already struggling economy of Solomon Islands under the COVID-19 pandemic.
For this reason, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare delivered a speech in parliament, which was filled with righteous indignation, lamenting the social unrest that has caused the country's economic development to stall or even reverse, berating outside forces for inciting mobs in Malaita and insisting that Solomon Islands would not bow down to "the forces of evil". Sogavare was "shaking with anger" and issued serious "warning" to outside forces.
The outside forces mentioned by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is not groundless. Malaita province has been historically at odds with the central government of Solomon Islands. Thousands of mobs from Malaita had sneaked into the capital on a massive scale despite the pandemic, carrying out organized violence and targeting Chinatown. Apparently, the instigation of outside forces made great contribution to it. In fact, it is not hard to see who is fomenting chaos in Solomon Islands by looking at the outside forces which Malaita is closely associated with and receiving "assistance" from. Both the people of Solomon Islands and the international community are well aware of this.
"Friendship comes in no particular order." The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Solomon Islands conforms to the trend of the times , which is supported by the people of the two countries.
However, in recent years, some people have suffered from the "China phobia" of "blaming everything on China". When the riots took place in Solomon Islands this time, these people were reminded with the old pattern of blaming China again. They distorted facts, and tried to pour dirty water on China claiming that the riots was related to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Solomon Islands.
China and the Solomon Islands have formally established diplomatic relations for more than two years. On September 21 2019, Solomon Islands became the 179th country to establish diplomatic ties with China. Half a month later, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare visited China. When meeting with Prime Minister Sogavare, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that "friendship comes in no particular order, and as long as it is carried out, there will be bright prospects", which pointed out the direction for the development of China-Solomon Islands relations.
In the past more than two years, upholding the philosophy of "friendship comes in no particular order", China-Solomon Islands relations quickly caught up and are now at the forefront of relations between China and Pacific Island Countries. China has provided Solomon Islands with 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and several batches of anti-epidemic material assistance. The sports stadium project supported by China has overcome the difficulties of the epidemic and started construction as scheduled, which will make an important contribution to the 2023 Pacific Games hosted by Solomon Islands. China has also implemented projects such as solar lights, garbage trucks, and cultural and sports goods, which have played a positive role in the economic recovery and improvement of the people's livelihood in Solomon Islands. In September 2021, President Xi Jinping spoke with Prime Minister Sogavare on the phone, and reached new important consensus on consolidating and expanding China-Solomon Islands relations. On December 16, State Councilor Wang Yi spoke with Foreign Minister of Solomon Islands Manele, expressing firm support to the government of Solomon Islands on maintaining domestic stability. Facts have fully proved that diplomatic ties between China and Solomon Islands has brought tangible benefits to peoples of both countries, conformed to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and the two people, which is supported by the vast majority of the people in Solomon Islands, including those in Malaita province. It is totally untenable and with ulterior motives to link the riots to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Solomon Islands.
Police cooperation between China and Solomon Islands does not move anyone's "cheese", but protects the "cake" for everyone and makes the "cake" even bigger.
Solomon Islands has no army, only more than 1,500 relatively ill-equipped police officers. After this unrest, the government has become more aware of the urgency of strengthening the police force's capacity to maintain stability. In this context, it is natural and normal for China and Solomon Islands to carry out police cooperation. However, some forces have hyped up China's "expansion" in the South Pacific region and exaggerated the so-called China "threat" , as if China has moved somebody's "cheese".
China does not have the gene to "expand" and has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. The police supplies provided by China to Solomon Islands are all non-offensive equipment, including helmets, shields, stab-proof suits, cut-resistant gloves, first aid kits, etc. The police liaison officers dispatched are professionals who will provide training and operational guidance in emergency command, riot prevention and emergency management. Police cooperation between China and Solomon Islands will not only help the latter improve its policing capacity, but also contribute to maintaining domestic stability and protecting the citizens of the country, including overseas Chinese there. This is in line with international law and international practice and in the common interests of all parties of this region. As Dickson Mua Panakitasi, the Supervising Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services of Solomon Islands said when he welcomed the first batch of riot equipment, "The riot equipment from China are important and timely, demonstrate the friendship and respect of the Chinese people, and will greatly strengthen the capacity of the government to maintain peace, security, law and order, and enhance the morale of the police to perform their duties."
China's cooperation with Solomon Islands will not affect Solomon Islands' cooperation with other countries or harm the interests of other countries. Holding on to the out-dated thinking of zero-sum games, Pacific Island countries would be small and competition is everywhere. With an open and inclusive mind, the Pacific Ocean is broad enough and full of opportunities for cooperation. The development of relations and deepening cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries is a historical necessity that meets the development needs of both sides and conforms to the will of the people of both sides, and does not pose a threat to any country.
China will always be a force in safeguarding peace and stability for Pacific Island Countries. China and Pacific Island countries jointly maintain regional peace and stability and promote regional development and prosperity, which shows the essence of building a community with a shared future for mankind. It is also a principle that China has always adhered to. Any attempt to interfere with and undermine China's relations with Pacific Island countries is futile, and the malicious hype of police cooperation between China and Solomon Islands can be put to rest.
The author is an observer for International Affairs.
