The Solomon Islands has held its first election since switching recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019. On the surface, the result indicates a change: a new prime minister in Jeremiah Manele, replacing Manasseh Sovagare who made the diplomatic switch and campaigned on deepening relations with China. But are Solomon Islanders really getting the change they voted for? Or will Beijing end up getting the result it wants? And why is the fate of this Pacific archipelago being closely watched by China, the U.S., Australia and Taiwan?
Our guests:
Alexander Huang
- Kuomintang (KMT) international affairs director
Tsai Jung-hsiang
- Professor in political science, National Chung Cheng University
Special guest from the Solomon Islands:
Daniel Suidani
- Former Premier of Malaita Province
- Assembly member, Malaita Province
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