In the strategically vital Solomon Islands, a quiet but intense contest for influence is unfolding, with China and Australia adopting markedly different approaches to supporting the nation's police force. This geopolitical tussle, described by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong as a 'permanent contest' to be the 'partner of choice' in the Pacific, is playing out in community halls and police stations across the capital, Honiara.
Divergent Strategies: Formal Partnerships vs Community Engagement
The contrasting methods are stark. At a church hall on Honiara's outskirts, community leaders like Ben Angoa gather for training sessions organised by Chinese police. Angoa enthusiastically praises not just the policing lessons, but also the solar lighting, sewing machines, and even noodle-making classes provided by Beijing. 'We really love China,' he says, noting its tangible 'impact in the community'—something he feels is lacking from other partners.
Australia's strategy, in contrast, is characterised by formal, institutional partnerships focused directly on the 1,100-strong Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. According to analysis by the Lowy Institute, Canberra has invested heavily, spending over $2.3 billion on a regional assistance mission that ran until 2017. The Australian Federal Police programme is budgeted at more than $170 million, with a further $190 million in commitments announced in 2024, though this initiative has reportedly stalled.
Associate Professor Graeme Smith, a China and Pacific scholar at the Australian National University, observes the core difference. 'Australia's approach is through formal partnerships and that excludes the involvement of community leaders,' he says. 'This approach obscures the fact that most disputes are managed by community leaders and not the formal police.'
Cars, Advisers and a Geopolitical Shift
On the surface, both nations provide similar support: advisers rotate through police stations, and both have donated so many vehicles that Honiara's police headquarters resembles a dusty used car lot. Weapons provision and overseas training for Solomon Islands officers are also common offerings.
However, the scale and style differ. Australia fields approximately three times as many police trainers in Honiara as China, which has around a dozen. The pivotal shift in this dynamic came in 2019 when the Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. This was followed in 2022 by a controversial security pact with Beijing, signalling Honiara's drift from Canberra's traditional sphere of influence and heightening Australian anxiety.
At the Chinese-run community sessions, local leaders lament issues like domestic violence, drunkenness, and dismal economic conditions. Professor Smith describes this as 'the classic Chinese urban policing model which mixes control with paternalism.' Participants like Angoa have even been fingerprinted as part of the programme, a process he equates to voter registration and does not find concerning.
The Battle for Hearts and Minds
Within the Solomon Islands, opinions on which partner is more effective remain deeply divided. Daniel Waneoroa, the Minister for Rural Development, sees international support as a 'win-win,' though coordinating multiple partners is challenging. Felix Bosokuru, a former politician from Malaita province, believes China's community-focused efforts are working and suggests 'Australia needs to remix the record and stop playing the same song.'
Senior opposition figure Peter Kenilorea Jr finds elements of the competition 'faintly farcical' but acknowledges the value of the support, such as Australia's provision of Guardian-class patrol boats. Yet, he warns of internal rifts within the police force, with senior figures now perceived as either pro-Beijing or pro-Canberra. 'There is a battle for hearts and minds going on,' he states, pointing to recent Australian billboards in Honiara trumpeting its police partnership. When asked who is succeeding in this contest, Kenilorea's answer is blunt: 'China is, definitely.'
As both global powers continue their engagement, the ultimate impact on Solomon Islands' sovereignty and policing efficacy remains an open question. With observers split on which strategy is proving more effective, the only consensus is that the 'permanent contest' for Pacific influence is being fought one community meeting and one police vehicle at a time.
