Japan sends envoy to Solomons amid worry over China pact

Six countries have sent delegates recently? Must be keeping their airport very busy.

"Closing the barn door after the horse has bolted"

US has the greatest number of military bases worldwide it's not even close, including a bunch which are in very close proximity to China, Russia, North Korea, etc.

The difference is that when the US builds another base, conducts military exercises or sells more missiles it's for "regional stability."

China will make the Solomons a great deal by building a new airport or ship port, then "rent" it to them for a low sum. Wait three years, raise the rent to astronomical proportions that they cannot repay, then voila! A new deep port or airstrip ready for the PLAN ( People's Liberation Army Navy) or PLAAF (People's Liberation Army Air Force). Just like they do in Africa.

The Solomon Islands PM is corrupt and needs Chinas backing to stay in power. Just the open door China needs to swoop in on a strategic and peace loving nation.

CrickyToday  09:25 am JST

The Solomon Islands PM is corrupt and needs Chinas backing to stay in power. Just the open door China needs to swoop in on a strategic and peace loving nation.

Agreed. Australia and New Zealand should not have intervened during the civilian uprising last year, they could have just sat back and let the people of the Solomon Islands overthrow Manasseh Sogavare and they wouldn't be dealing with the problem of China's encroachment.

"we'd like to express our concern.... this is extremely regrettable" job done! （＾＿－）

How can anyone question the Wisdom of Solomon(s)?

The thing is, if i am in charge of any of these places of interest, eg, like The Soloman Island.

I will be asking myself, for years and years and years, all these 1st world countries, who are now showing interest in my affairs, never showed any interest/come visit me/ did not care, suddenly expressed interest in me? after the Chinese came. Sincerity? genuine? really interested in my interests? They are thinking that i must be stupid.

No one is aware of, let alone careabout that part of the world, until China knocks the door with package of goodies.

If you were the leaders of those countries, what would you do

As a sovereign country it's up to Ukraine if they want to join NATO

but Solomon Island joining China ? Le bad ! It's just bad OK ?!

Its not surprising that the Solomon islands made this decision given the past history of dealings with the allied forces and being colonized by British and occupation by the Japanese and then there's Australia in their agreement treaty also.

What a mess.

And China is still predicted to be the world's economic power.

Japan and the US should keep their noses out or should offer a better deal…!

To paraphrase Napoleon Bonaparte, "Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world."

The rest of the world hopes China will be a peaceful nation, but as recent events in Ukraine show, what we hope for, and what makes sense, do not necessarily reflect what happens.

@kurisupisu LMFAO if your suggestion is Japan and the US offering a better deal, please explain how is that keeping their noses out?

Japan and the US should keep their noses out or should offer a better deal…!

No one is aware of, let alone careabout that part of the world, until China knocks the door with package of goodies.

That isn't true. Both Australia and New Zealand have been providing aid to Solomon Islands for decades.

That isn't true. Both Australia and New Zealand have been providing aid to Solomon Islands for decades.

I assume what @SethM refers to are goodies delivered to friends and families of Sogavare often to bank accounts in other parts of the world.

Even before the switch from Taiwan, local press (Solomons Times??) reported politicians were demanding (foreign/overseas) apartments, school fees and living expenses from Taiwanese companies. The pattern of screw the country (people), look after me first is what Australia/NZ either missed or not willing to participate in.

Even before the switch from Taiwan, local press (Solomons Times??) reported politicians were demanding (foreign/overseas) apartments, school fees and living expenses from Taiwanese companies. The pattern of screw the country (people), look after me first is what Australia/NZ either missed or not willing to participate in.

As I posted in another thread Australian aid comprises 65% of the Solomon Island's total foreign aid receipts, and it is all in the form of grants, not the loans China offers and expects to be repaid. You may be correct that Australia was unwilling to entertain requests by Solomon Island officials for specific personal, cough cough, accommodations such as those you mention and the Chinese are. I just do not know.

The government in Honiara may wish to speak to their counterparts in Port Moresby about their experience with the Chinese. PNG has basically told the Chinese to go hike to hades after the "data center" the Chinese built turned out be nothing more than an ELINT / COMINT listening post for the PLA and are now offering the US the use of some bases there.

This is "Cuba" in the Pacific! But I am sure China will never deploying ballistic missiles, they have ICBM/SLBMs, unlike the Soviet Union in 1961

This is "Cuba" in the Pacific! But I am sure China will never deploying ballistic missiles, they have ICBM/SLBMs, unlike the Soviet Union in 1961

The Soviet Union very much had ICBMs in 1961. What bugged them were the SM-78 Jupiter missiles the US had recently deployed to Italy and Turkey as a forward strike capability. The Soviets thought that being so close to Soviet / Warsaw Pact territory they would not have sufficient warning of a Jupiter launch to do anything to protect themselves and thus decided to deploy nuclear Scuds to Cuba. The US quietly agreed to withdraw their Jupiter missiles from Europe as part of the negotiated settlement of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

US has the greatest number of military bases worldwide it's not even close, including a bunch which are in very close proximity to China, Russia, North Korea, etc.

Would you prefer facing Chinese aggression alone without US support? Just asking ....................

The US withdrew from the world into isolationism after WWI and that didn't work out very well, did it ?

Its not surprising that the Solomon islands made this decision given the past history of dealings with the allied forces

It's not surprising, but it doesn't mean it's in the SI national interest. Sogavare was appoinred (puppet) PM by the rebel group Malaitan Eagle Force when it took over the country in the early 2000s.

The MEF were grossly destabilising to the SI, AND they were acting on historical colonial grievances, not actual material grievances. It took the old colonial allies (AU/NZ etc.) much efforts to restore stability, and that is why a majority of SI islanders supports the old colonial allies.

The MEF on the other hand were essentially rule by force, and illegitimate and that is one of the reason Sogavare is a soft target for the CCP. He sings from the same song book.

Of course the US, under Obama didn't help either, when the Pacific Islands Forum was enlarging in 2016, the US chose to keep out Guam, Marianas etc. from joining, instead letting the French join its territories, who then turned out to be useless and detached.

The US in ignoring the region is rather indulting, given Sol Islanders saving the future president JFK's life when his ship sank nearby in the 2nd world war. Things aren't always b&w.

We have 11 aircraft carrier,we can project strength anywhere

Australia is very concerned about this pact. It puts a Chinese military vase on their doorstep.

Be on the winners side,

You mean Be on the whiners' side.

Fixed it for you

Good to engage but in the end futile. A bit of history....

China went into Ecuador, not by competition or friendhip, but by bribes, now Ecuador is a mess.

China went into the Fillipines, again by bribes (offered oil/gas development with Duterte's family)...nil, nothing, no development, not even study. Duterte now looks likexa fool.

China went into Sri Lanka, offered bribes and contracts to ruling family, now Sri Lanka is a mess.

The list is endless.

Australia/US/NZ/Taiwan can't compete with briberies. Period. Race to the bottom.

Don't forget, Taiwan was the first victim, all its Tuna deals scuppered overnight, Chinese companies invited into JV with kleptocrats under Sogavare. When the riots broke out, Chinese companies were displacing people so logging can start.

Only Solution - asset seizures of Sogavare and comrades to compensate Solomon Islanders.

I seriously doubt the Solomon islands can forget or forgive Japan for the unnecessary invasion and occupation of the Solomon islands in the 1940's.

Even tho the occupation only lasted 3 years the lethal invasion and destruction of the environment due to construction of naval and air bases is irreplaceable and unforgivable.

Japan's imperialism never actually ended its still in use.

Japan have too much free time.