Solomon Islands: China almost certain to continue to increase influence efforts in Malaita Province
On 19 June, the Premier of Malaita Province signed an agreement formalising a sister-province relationship with Jiangsu Province in the Chinese city of Nanjing. Both sides expressed the intent to cooperate across agriculture, infrastructure and education. In April and October 2024, Jiangsu Province donated agricultural supplies, water tanks, and solar lighting to Malaita as part of a cooperation agreement signed in April 2024. Approximately half of the scholarships awarded to Solomon Islanders to attend Chinese universities go to students from Malaita, while China has also sent medical assistance and is funding a tar-sealing project for roads within the Provincial Capital, Auki.
Assessment: The remaining pro-Taiwan bloc within Solomon Islands politics has been centred on Malaita. Growing ties and development assistance with the province is intended to turn support from this bloc to China, with recent success forcing one Malaitan Minister and Member of Parliament to resign from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (see SPI#21 of 8-21 May 2025). With ongoing uncertainty around United States aid, China is almost certain to continue to take advantage of the opportunity to increase its influence relative to the US, Taiwan, and traditional partners in Malaita and the wider South Pacific region.
Sources: Solomon Lofana, “Jiangsu, Malaita Establish Sister Province Relationship,” Solomon Star News, June 28, 2025; Ronald Toito’ona, “Half of Solomons Students in China Are from Malaita, Says Chinese Envoy,” In‑Depth Solomons, June 27, 2025; Sebastian Strangio, “US Aid Pledge to Pro‑Taiwan Solomon Islands Province Raises Eyebrows,” The Diplomat, October 1, 2020.
