The Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands has chosen a pro-China candidate to be its prime minister, a sign that Beijing will continue to maintain strong ties with this country.
On Thursday, Jeremiah Manele defeated Matthew Wale in the vote for prime minister, 31–18.
He will replace outgoing Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, a strong opponent of the West.
When the Solomon Islands decided to revoke their long-standing diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of China in 2019, Mr. Manele was the country’s foreign minister. This decision surprised the neighbors in the area.
He has already stated that he will maintain the close links the country has with China, including the covert defense and security agreement for the island. The opposition candidates had proposed that the agreement be withdrawn, or at the minimum, that all of its terms be made public.
