Voters to focus on hospitals and roads in election keenly watched by US and China

A national election in the Solomon Islands this week, the first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed a security agreement with Beijing, will be scrutinised for its potential to jolt the US-China rivalry in the South Pacific.

The United States and Australia are concerned about mainland China’s naval ambitions in Pacific countries, as tensions rise over Taiwan.

Despite its population of just 700,000, the Solomon Islands occupy a strategic position 1,600km northeast of Australia, the area strewn with World War II wrecks that remind it was once a pivotal battlefield.

Voters would be focused on hospitals struggling without medicine, education shortcomings and inadequate roads when they cast ballots on Wednesday, opposition party lawmakers said.

But Sogavare’s rapid embrace of mainland China since he won power four years ago – including inviting its police into the archipelago and switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan – is also in the spotlight.

“The services and economy are really in a desperate situation. The issue of China and this new relationship is also important. That is a source of anger towards Sogavare,” said Democratic Alliance Party leader Rick Houenipwela, who was prime minister before Sogavare.

Sogavare, installed as prime minister by independent candidates who won a combined 37 per cent of the vote in 2019, has pointed to hosting the Pacific Games last year as a major achievement and pledged to strengthen relations with Beijing.

China donated stadiums for the Games, and is building ports, roads and a Huawei telecommunications network.

Opposition parties said they would scrap the China security pact or hold a national referendum on it, and reduce Beijing’s influence by accepting more infrastructure support from US allies.

Peter Kenilorea, whose United Party won 10 per cent of votes in 2019, said he wanted the Solomon Islands to return to being a reliable partner of Australia and New Zealand, and would abolish the China security pact.

“We’re not convinced it’s in the interests of Solomon Islands,” he said.

Closely watched will be election results in Malaita, the most populous province, which has long criticised deepening China ties and is where opposition parties hope to gain nine seats.

Malaita’s Governor Daniel Suidani refused to allow Chinese companies to operate in the province until he was removed following a no-confidence vote last year. His replacement, Martin Fini, has signed Chinese cooperation deals, including last week, when Beijing’s special envoy for the Pacific Qian Bo visited Malaita.

The prime minister is selected by winning lawmakers in the parliament in Honiara, often weeks after the election results.

Houenipwela’s party has formed a coalition with Matthew Wale’s Solomon Islands Democratic Party, which won the biggest share of the vote (14 per cent) in 2019, and is seeking a combined majority of 26 seats.

Australian National University Pacific specialist Graeme Smith said the shift away from independents was significant for this election, with Sogavare also convincing many government members to join his new party.

Australia has sent 400 police and military to assist the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) with election security, alongside New Zealand and Pacific forces. Chinese police would remain in a training role, the RSIPF said.

Election observer groups from Australia and elsewhere will monitor voting and counting, with national and provincial polls held on the same day.

Sogavare has said publicly that he would not host a Chinese military base in the country – which Washington and Canberra have said was a red line.