Jeremiah Manele, the pro-Chinese candidate, has been elected prime minister of the Solomon Islands. Manele won 31 out of 50 votes in the secret ballot in Parliament, defeating his rival Matthew Wale who had promised a loosening of ties with Beijing. Manele was elated that the vote took place without violence, emphasizing that it showcased a better side of the country. In the Solomon Islands, elections often trigger riots, with past incidents leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Bart Ulufa’alu in 2000 and the deployment of an international contingent in 2006 to prevent unrest.
Having served as foreign minister in 2019 when the Solomon Islands established diplomatic ties with China, Manele is expected to continue the policy of strengthening relations with Beijing. Concerns have been raised by the US and Australia that a security agreement signed with China in 2022 could potentially pave the way for a Chinese military base in the South Pacific. Manele has pledged to lead a government of national unity focused on revitalizing the economy and progress towards recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, with plans for reforms such as a value-added tax and the creation of a special economic zone among the government’s top priorities.