Name? Manasseh Sogavare
Westphalian identity? Solomon Islander
Age? 67
Why is he in the news? Prime Minister Sogavare of the Solomon Islands is in the news over a prospective security deal with China potentially allowing President Xi to achieve his goal of building a military base in the South Pacific. To Xi’s dismay, however, Sogavare felt ‘it is very insulting’ that any would speculate the possibility of a Chinese military base in the Solomon Islands.
Why do we care? Last time we spoke about Sogavare the PM was facing calls for resignation due to riots across the country. These riots partially stemmed from Sogavare’s 2019 decision to switch allegiances from Taiwan to China, which largely divided the country. Now, China could send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomon Islands “to assist in maintaining social order”.
Why should you care? We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, it’s rare that one individual or nation, especially one this small, plays such a pivotal role in the US-China geopolitical battle. Consequently, you should care 8/10 whether Sogavare’s new security pact sets a precedent for other countries in the South Pacific.
Who else cares? President David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia sent an impassioned letter to PM Sogavare urging him to consider the long-term consequences of the new security pact “for the entire Pacific region, if not the entire world.” Ultimately, Panuelo is concerned that the Pacific will become mere collateral damage in a potential conflict between China and the US.
Any further comments? Australian PM Morrison and New Zealand’s PM Ardern were quick to release a seemingly united response to the Solomon Islands-China Security Pact in which both leaders emphasised the importance of their “Pacific family” in their “own backyard.” Morrison in particular was quick to reach out to Sogavare and express concern over the pact given that Australia and the Solomon Islands already have a joint security agreement.
