Five years show why China and Solomon Islands are a model partnership

Editor's note: Sun Chang, a special commentator for CGTN, is assistant research professor at the Institute of Southeast Asian and Oceania Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

As China and the Solomon Islands celebrate five years of their diplomatic relations – formed by signing a joint communique on September 21, 2019 – they have deepened their cooperation on trade, infrastructure, healthcare, education and security, opening a new chapter of a shared future.

The Solomon Islands is one of the least developed countries as per the UN, with structural impediments to growth and severe vulnerability. Its decision to sever diplomatic ties with the Taiwan region and stand on "the right side of history" indicates its willingness to raise its people's living standards. China's remarkable success in poverty alleviation and modernization offers a valuable model and has helped the island nation make significant strides in its development journey.

From the construction of road networks to telecommunication infrastructure and sports stadiums, a wide range of facilities have been built in the Solomon Islands. Chinese hospital ship Peace Ark visited the islands in 2023, providing diagnosis and treatment for common and frequently occurring diseases. The reduction of tariffs on Solomon Islands export products to China, ranging from zero on 98 percent, has helped it tap a world-class consumption market, while student, official and agricultural specialist exchanges have expanded the scope of the bilateral relationship and fostered mutual understanding. 

The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is a model of South-South cooperation and at the forefront of China's relations with Pacific Islands countries. It is based on China's "four full respects" policy: namely, full respect for the sovereignty and independence of Pacific Island countries, for their will, their cultural traditions, and their effort to seek strength through unity.

The rapid growth of the bilateral relationship can also be attributed to the synergy between their development strategies. The Belt and Road Initiative is aligned with the Solomon Islands' National Development Strategy (2016-2035) as well as the regional 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. China's partnership supports the Solomon Islands in independently choosing a development path that suits its national conditions, and focuses on sustainable development and people's well-being, tailoring measures to local conditions to meet the nation's needs.

However, after the Solomon Islands signed a security cooperation framework with China in 2022, Western narratives have unfairly portrayed the independent decision as a deliberate attempt by China to control the islands, allegedly threatening regional security. This is an interpretation rooted in a narrow geopolitical perspective. 

Despite repeated assurances by the top leaders of the Solomon Islands that the agreement does not involve establishing a Chinese military base or target any third party, but focuses purely on economic and developmental interests, the islands have nonetheless become a focal point for global powers.

The U.S. and Australia regard the Solomon Islands as their backyard and view the cooperation with China as a challenge instead of a new contributor to common interests. However, Australia itself signed a security treaty with the Solomon Islands before the latter established diplomatic relations with China and yet no concerns have been raised about its motives behind this "cooperation." 

This highlights the double standard of some Western powers who selectively frame the legitimate security cooperation of other nations as conspiracies to serve their own geopolitical interests. Such manipulation underscores their broader strategic aims and willingness to cast normal partnerships in a negative light when it suits their agenda.

The key to China and Solomon Islands becoming a model of joint development lies in their mutual respect for each other's paths and their focus on cooperation that benefits their people. Having experienced a colonial history and the scars of war, the Solomon Islands was attracted by China's development success and made its own choice. 

The West should realize that trying to undermine the relationship is futile. The right way to foster friendship is to take responsibility for historical obligations and honor past commitments, not by disrupting constructive partnerships.

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