China-Solomon Islands relations

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.
Establishment of relations
:detailed article: Sino-Pacific relations
The Solomon Islands became an independent country from the United Kingdom in 1978. In 1983 it established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). However, the People's Republic of China long maintained a diplomatic objective of trying to limit recognition of Taiwan's government around the world and to get countries to end diplomatic relations with Taipei in favour of having diplomatic relations with Beijing.
In 2019 Manasseh Sogavare was elected as prime minister of the Solomon islands and he followed a policy of changing diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing. The Guardian reported that Solomon Islands MPs claimed China had offered huge amounts of money in bribes to support the change.
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 as 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 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.

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