Solomon Islands premier regrets being targeted for shifting diplomatic relations to China

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The prime minister of the Solomon Islands regretted Friday being targeted for establishing diplomatic relations with China as he urged mutual respect for national sovereignty.

“The right to establish diplomatic relations between sovereign nations is a universal principle shared by all members of the UN,” Manasseh Sogavare told the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Calling for respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of any country, Sogavare said his country had been “unfairly targeted since formalizing diplomatic relations” with China in 2019 after it snapped ties with Taiwan.

The Solomon Islands, until three years ago, had diplomatic relations with the self-ruled island nation which China considers a "breakaway province." Taipei, however, has insisted on its independence since 1949.

“We have been subjected to a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced criticisms, misinformation and intimidation that threatens our democracy and sovereignty,” he said, adding the south Pacific island nation “has no enemies – only friends.”

“Our struggle is to develop our country. We stretch out our hand of friendship and seek genuine and honest cooperation and partnership with all,” said the premier of the Solomon Islands, home to nearly 700,000 people.

Sogavare’s comments come after the island nation signed a security deal with China in April that drew criticism from New Zealand, Australia and their allies, including the US and Japan.

China is renegotiating a regional security and trade deal with 10 Pacific nations, which fell short of signing in May.

This summer, the Solomon Islands also signed an agreement with a Chinese bank to build broadband infrastructure in the country.

On recent tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Sogavare advocated against “inflaming tensions” that can “threaten the unity and security of any country.”

He said the strait is one of the world’s busiest trading routes used by international shipping.

“Any miscalculation could threaten international peace and security and could have disastrous consequences on global trade,” said Sogavare, seemingly backing Beijing’s position on the issue which has intensified tensions between the US and China.

Sogavare also called for “total elimination of nuclear material, nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered military assets in our Blue Pacific.”