In 2023, the Solomon Islands elected Jeremiah Manele as their new prime minister. Manele, a pro-Chinese candidate, won 31 out of 50 votes in a secret ballot held in Parliament, defeating his opponent Mathew Wale who had advocated for a loosening of ties with Beijing. Manele was thrilled with the outcome and expressed his gratitude that the vote took place without any violence, stating, “Today we showed the world that we are better than this.” The Solomon Islands is an island nation in Oceania with a population of approximately 720 thousand and has a history of election-related riots.
In recent years, there have been concerns about security and military presence in the region due to a security agreement signed with China in 2022. Some analysts predict that Manele will continue the policy of closer ties with China initiated by his predecessor Manasseh Sogavare who did not seek reelection. However, some fear that this agreement could potentially lead to the establishment of a permanent Chinese military base in the South Pacific.
Manele has promised to focus on governance and economic revitalization during his time as prime minister. He has outlined plans to reform the value-added tax and establish a special economic zone as priorities for his government. With these initiatives, Manele hopes to help lift the country out of its current economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
