China–Solomon Islands relations
The Solomon Islands and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 2019. Prior to this, the Solomon Islands had diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). The current ambassador of China to the Solomon Islands is Li Ming. The ambassador of the Solomon Islands to China is John Moffat Fugui. History. The Solomon Islands became an independent country from the United Kingdom in 1978. In 1983, it established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC). In 2019, Manasseh Sogavare was elected as prime minister of the Solomon Islands and he followed a policy of  switching diplomatic relations from ROC to the People's Republic of China. The Guardian reported that Solomon Islands MPs claimed China had offered huge amounts of money in bribes to support the change. In April 2022, both countries signed a pact on security cooperation. Activities. The entire island of Tulagi was reportedly part of a deal to allow it to be leased to China, including for military affairs, however, the deal was ruled illegal and did not carry through. A draft report of a possible security agreement between the Solomon Islands and China was revealed in the press in 2022 . It included allowing the Chinese military to have personnel on the islands, in order to protect Chinese nationals and Chinese projects, as well as allowing Chinese warships to visit the islands for berthing and resupplying. The Australian government, being both a neighbour of the Solomon Islands and a strategic rival to China, voiced great concern over this development. Particularly, Australia and some of its allies were concerned that this might be the start of permanent Chinese military bases being placed near Australia.