US plans high- level visit to Solomon Islands with ‘ colonialist mentality’

A high- level visit to the Solomon Islands led by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and newly appointed US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy has reportedly been set for August, as more South Pacific countries display friendly cooperation with China.

The potential visit is also widely seen as part of stepped- up efforts by the US to reassert its involvement in the South Pacific to “compete for regional influence” with China, although experts do not see the prospect of this happening soon, given the politicization and weaponization instead of mutual benefits the US has aimed for, and the poor legacy the US has left in the region.

Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former US president John F. Kennedy, was sworn in as US ambassador to Australia on June 10 and arrived in the country to take up her post on Friday. Kennedy will soon be on a visit to the Solomon Islands with Sherman, and meet with senior officials “to highlight the enduring relationship,” Reuters reported on Monday.

After many countries in the South Pacific region gave friendly signals to China and signed cooperation agreements, the US seems to be trying to eliminate the positive influence and practical help China has provided to the South Pacific.

Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at the East China Normal University, told the Global Times that the US is likely to conduct a political offensive to bully Solomon Islands officials and support some anti- China political forces, media and non- governmental organizations. “This is the usual US ploy to create political pressure within other countries,” Chen said.

The new US Pacific islands initiative is a highly politicized and highly weaponized strategy that does not serve the interests of local people, but uses the South Pacific as a tool with a colonialist and imperialist mentality, he said.

“Unlike the US, the projects that China has invested in building are clearly showing positive results to all residents,” Chen said.

“The local people and leaders are very aware of its essence,” Chen said. “They will exercise political wisdom and independence to defend their own interests.”