SYDNEY, Jan. 28 – Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has affirmed the country’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with China in 2019. In an interview with local media Tavuli News, Sogavare stated that the government’s foreign relations are guided by a policy of being friends to all, enemy to none.
Sogavare emphasized that the United Nations General Assembly’s Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, restored all lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN and acknowledged the representatives of its government as the sole legitimate UN representatives of China. He stressed that all UN members are obliged to respect this resolution and recognize Taiwan as an integral part of China.
Despite being a small nation, the leaders of various countries, including China, have treated the Solomon Islands as an equal, according to Sogavare. In times of challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent riots, China and other development partners actively extended assistance to the Solomon Islands, providing crucial support.
Contrasting this with his experience at a summit with Pacific Island countries, Sogavare mentioned that the U.S. leader would lecture others for one hour and allocate only three minutes for other leaders to speak. He asserted that such treatment would not be tolerated in the Solomon Islands, emphasizing the sovereignty of the nation and the need to engage as equals, regardless of its size.
The decision by the Solomon Islands to establish diplomatic relations with China has been met with approval from the Prime Minister, who cited the respectful treatment the nation has received from China and other countries. The policy of friends to all, enemy to none has guided the government’s foreign relations, fostering a sense of equality in partnerships.
The historic UN resolution in 1971 recognizes Taiwan as part of China, and Sogavare emphasized that this is an obligation for all UN member states to respect. In highlighting the assistance received during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent riots, Sogavare underscored the support provided by China and other development partners to the Solomon Islands.
Drawing a comparison to his experience at a summit with Pacific Island countries, the Prime Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with unequal treatment from certain leaders. He adamantly asserted that the Solomon Islands, though small in size, would not tolerate such treatment and would engage as equals with other nations.
The decision to forge diplomatic relations with China has been met with various benefits, including respectful treatment and assistance during challenging times. The Solomon Islands aims to maintain an approach of equality in its foreign relations, emphasizing the importance of each nation, regardless of size, being treated as an equal partner.
