Sep. 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has criticized before the 77th session of the United Nations Assembly that the Solomon Islands have been attacked “unfairly” since it formalized its diplomatic relations with China.
“We have been subjected to a barrage of unwarranted attacks and
misplaced criticism, misinformation and intimidation that threatens
our democracy and sovereignty. Solomon Islands has been vilified in the media ever since our relationship with China was formalized,” she explained.
Thus, Sogavare has clarified that his position regarding the Asian giant “is consistent” with the UN resolutions, as well as the principle of ‘One China’, which Solomon Islands “respects”. “I reiterate the call to respect our sovereignty and democracy,” he added.
The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands has also clarified that they will not align themselves “with any external power” whose objective is to “threaten” regional and international peace. “Solomon Islands will not be forced to choose sides,” he has sentenced.
It should be remembered that Sogavare signed an agreement with Beijing on April 19 for both parties to collaborate on issues such as the maintenance of public order, the protection and safety of people and priorities, humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters.
This agreement was viewed with suspicion from the outset by Australia and the United States, who warned that the pact opened the door to a hypothetical deployment of Chinese troops in the archipelago. However, Solomon Islands authorities have ruled out the construction of military bases.
With regard to another of the stumbling blocks in the Pacific region, Taiwan, Sogavare made a call to the General Assembly for countries to be “sensitive” in order to “not inflame tensions” between the parties.
Finally, Sogavare has referred to the protests experienced in the Solomon Islands in November 2021, assuring that the progress to get out of the crisis “was seriously hampered” by the disturbances caused by civilians, which “exposed the country’s security and economy “.
“We welcome any help to address our post-conflict situation,” he said, adding that, given the supposed calm at present, the Solomon Islands will host the 2023 Pacific Games.
The November 2021 riots broke out after a thousand people, mostly from the island of Malaita, gathered in the capital, Honiara, to reproach the central government for the lack of resources for regional development and flatly reject the policy of rupture with Taiwan and rapprochement with China that Sogavare has been applying since 2019.
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