The Albanese government might get frustrated by its Pacific neighbour partly because it can’t control it,but it needs to temper its expectations.
Admitting that Pacific nations have been given “short shrift” for years,the US has sought to make amends in the region of growing interest to China.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says his country had been subjected to a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced criticisms,misinformation and intimidation.
A black belt karate expert who has served four stints as prime minister,Sogavare has an unpredictable temperament and a troubled relationship with Australia.
Two days after saying it was “foreign interference”,Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has accepted Australia’s offer to fund the national elections.
Jose Ramos-Horta defended China’s role as a rising power,arguing it has “hardly ever” invaded other countries and was unlikely to do so in the future.
The Coalition has accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of “woefully” mishandling the relationship with the Solomons by going public about the sensitive offer.
News of the potential sale came as it was also announced that US President Joe Biden would host leaders of Pacific Island nations at the White House.
China says it is investing not just for profit or geopolitical advantage but to help lift Africa out of poverty but often Chinese companies use their power with little regard for locals.
The deal will tie a significant part of the country’s mobile infrastructure to the company,which is banned from building 5G networks in Australia.
The Taiwanese foreign minister says Taiwan is the last island standing in the way of China’s determination to expand its reach into the Pacific.