(AFP, Solomon Islands, capital Heneala, 19th) China’s efforts to establish influence in the Solomon Islands encountered a major obstacle today.
According to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, Finney, who has overseen the rapid expansion of Chinese influence in Malaita province, lost his bid for re-election. Malaita Province is the most populous province in the Solomon Islands.
While China has expanded its influence in other parts of the Solomon Islands, Malaita Province has gone in the opposite direction, refusing to accept Chinese aid or investment for many years.
But things changed after Finney took over as governor in 2023, succeeding the popular Daniel Suidani.
Finney recently signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Jiangsu province, but his failure to be re-elected leaves the future of the deal in doubt.
The Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands has praised Finney’s “solid support” for China and promised to build new roads and provide better networks in the Solomon Islands.
Concerned that Chinese money may one day come with strings attached, Sudani is one of the few local leaders who has refused to cash Chinese checks.
Sudani said he would now seek another term as governor of Malaita, saying Finney’s pursuit of closer ties with China had prevented him from being re-elected.
“The people of Malaita do not agree with what the government has done over the last 12 months, including establishing relations with the Chinese province of Jiangsu, which has all led to this,” he told AFP today.
In the past, the Sudanese provincial government was so concerned about China’s influence that it blocked Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from building much-needed mobile communications stations on the island.
“This is something that is very worrying, the influence (of the Chinese Communist Party) in this country,” Sudani said as the election began earlier this week.
In early 2023, Sudani was ousted as governor in a vote of no confidence. He has long suspected that China is behind the scenes plotting his ouster.
Solomon Islands is still counting votes for local and national elections.
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