HONIARA: The attempt of Beijing to further expand its influence across the Solomon Islands hit a major obstacle Friday, with the pro-China premier of the Pacific nation's most populous province set to lose his seat in country-wide elections.
Malaita premier Martin Fini — who was responsible for the swift expansion of Chinese interests in the province lost his re-election bid, according to provisional results reported by Solomon Islands' public broadcaster.
For years, the province of Malaita refused to accept aid or investment from China, bucking the trend as Beijing's influence expanded across the rest of the sprawling archipelago.
However, this changed when Fini was installed as premier in 2023, replacing the popular Daniel Suidani.
Beijing's embassy in the Solomon Islands has in the past praised Fini's "firm support" of China.
Fearful that Beijing's financial support would one day come with strings attached, Suidani was one of the rare provincial leaders who refused to cash China's checks.
Suidani's provincial government was so concerned about China's sway that it blocked telecom giant Huawei from building desperately needed cell phone towers on the island.
"That is something that is very concerning: the influence of the (Chinese Communist Party) in this country," provincial power broker Suidani told AFP as elections kicked into gear earlier this week.
Suidani was ousted as Malaita's premier after losing a no-confidence vote in early 2023.
He has long suspected China of working behind the scenes to orchestrate his removal.
A spokesperson for Suidani told AFP on Friday that he was on track to reclaim his provincial seat.
Solomon Islands is currently counting votes for both provincial and national elections.
The contest has cast the spotlight on China's efforts to stamp its mark on the South Pacific and has been pitched in part as a referendum on Beijing's growing influence in the country.
Incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has championed deeper ties with Beijing since coming to power in 2019.
The centerpiece of Sogavare's embrace was a 2022 security pact that has seen rotating teams of Chinese police deployed in the archipelago.