Solomon Islands' Policing Pact with China Deepens US-China Rivalry in South Pacific

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare visited Beijing, where he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to expand relations between the two countries. The Solomon Islands, which switched official recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, has become China's biggest success in its campaign to increase influence in the South Pacific. The visit highlights the ongoing U.S.-China rivalry in the region, with the Biden administration announcing plans to reopen an American Embassy in the Solomon Islands. China aims to strengthen relations and trade through its Belt and Road Initiative, while the U.S. focuses on cooperation in climate change and maritime security.