China, US rivalry in Pacific may heat up as Solomon Islands looks to switch ties from Taipei to Beijing

• Task force is reportedly evaluating diplomatic relations with self-ruled island, while a delegation went to Beijing to discuss potentially switching allegiance
• Growing Chinese influence in region has raised concern among US and allies

South China Moring Post
Date: 3 Sep, 2019
By: Laura Zhou  

Rivalry between China and the United States in the South Pacific is expected to intensify, with the Solomon Islands reportedly in talks with Beijing about potentially switching diplomatic ties from Taipei after 36 years.

A task force charged with evaluating the country’s Taiwan ties returned from a tour of Pacific nations allied to Beijing just before a mid-August visit to the Chinese capital by eight Solomon Islands ministers and the prime minister’s private secretary, Reuters reported on Monday.

The Solomon Islands is one of only 17 countries that recognise Taiwan, six of which are in the Pacific. Beijing – which sees Taiwan as a renegade province with no right to state-to-state ties – has sought to squeeze the self-ruled island diplomatically by trying to persuade its remaining allies to switch recognition since independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016.

According to parliament schedules, the task force – set up by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare after he was re-elected in April – will present its recommendations as early as this week, the report said.    [FULL  STORY]