China and the West in a battle for control of the Solomon Islands | 60 Minutes Australia
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- An investigation into the very determined battle between east and west to win hearts and minds of people in this strategically important Pacific nation.
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Synopsis | First Aid (2023)
Over the past 15 years Australia has given the Solomon Islands more than three billion dollars in aid - far more than any other country has given. Without doubt the help is much needed, but whether it’s appreciated is another matter.
It seems the Solomon Islands government is much more grateful for the far less aid it receives from China. In a special report for 60 MINUTES, Eryk Bagshaw, North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, travels to the Solomons to investigate the very determined battle between east and west to win hearts and minds in this strategically important Pacific nation.
VIDEO CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:12 China makes its mark on the Solomon Islands
02:41 Solomon Islands Prime Minister switches allegiance to Beijing
02:57 China funded Stadium in Hoiniara
04:26 Political advisor Celsus Talifilu
06:10 Solomon Islands prime location
07:12 Mining company devastates village
09:07 Gold smuggling
10:19 USNS Mercy ship
12:45 The federated states of Micronesia
15:23 Solomon Island’s Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare
16:30 The future relationship between Australia and the Solomon Islands.
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Australia, NZ , Japan and USA are Solomon Island Traditional partners. They have been there since day one Solomon Island gain its independence and China is just a new comer.. Personally, i think these traditional donor partner should restrategize their way of giving aid donor to countries. PRC approach in giving aid is somewhat different if we closely observe. They gave aid money, implement it by using their own contractors and deliver. Similarly Japan did that aswell.. Majority of Solomon Islanders started to believe that China had provided tangible development. A new state of the art cardiology health centre is currently in progress to be built and It'll be one of the best regional cardio clinics in the Pacific..
60 Minutes: "....it's China..." ( ominous music)
The biggest difference between Australian aid and Chinese is that Australia just hands over the billions in cash to the govt. Through a very corrupt system, that money is then whittled away so that almost none of the aid gets to where it was intended. China on the other hand does not just hand over the cash, they build and build as part of their aid. So which aid do you all think is more noticeable by the average citizen on the streets of the Solomons?
This distinction should have been made in the reporting.
You obviously didn’t watch the video.
I did watch the video but i was able to filter out the sensationalism, clearly you couldn't.@@norodom2074
When they start building a shipyard with nice shiny battleships are you going to still be saying the same thing?
thing is you end up paying for it at the end china will get there money back
at an interest rate between 2-3% whereas the IMF had been giving developing nations in the Pacific and Africa loans at an interest rate of 18-26%. Its in the IMF and World Bank's interest to keep these nations begging for more. New infrastructure and new supply chains that are not controlled by the current colonial powers will help these countries become more self-sufficient@@roberthopping7295
75% of that aid goes back to Australia in the form of consultants and other service
. unlike Chinese aid which the country only have diplomatic ties with in 2019 and you can see physical changes
Yes SI and pacific for China we can see physical change through the partnership with Chinese government.
of course bro. the australians are fundraising with there own money. therefore though the amount is huge (AUD $300billion) we didn't see the real outcome of that amount.
Yes, that's really true.
Well China does not treat Solomon islanders as children. China treats them as partners.
Australian aid goes to Australia aid managers (agencies) employing Auatralian experts
Well, check out what the solomon Islanders called Boomerang Aid...that's Australian Aid.
Australian Aid is a Boomerang Aid. Most of the money goes back to Australian Consultants and the rest is spent on irrelevant Programs, very small goes to Infrastructure. There is zero visibility with Australian Aid. On the other hand Chinese Aid, you can see the real physical infrastructure. Chinese Aid is the best. Chinese Aid have provided real infrastructure transformation.Solomon island is changing under Songovare. Same In PNG, most of the infrastructure is build by the chinese under Peter Oneil. PNG has been with Australia for donkey years but very little development as the money goes back to Australian consultants.
sub standard..
Westerners just don't get it.
Yeah we di
Prime Minister did the right thing for the Solomon island people. We have to be financially freedom. Thank you China for supporting Solomon island
60 Minutes is on a posting tear, and I'm here for it.
So Australia was not giving aid it thought it was buying the Solomon Islands and is now unhappy they are looking after thier own future and possible prosperity dealing with China.
You think letting China come in and steal your resources is "prosperity"? I guess you didn't watch the video.
Yea, look what they did to Timor oil
@@abdiganiaden
By Australia or China ?
@@abdiganiadenexception to the rule and we also aided the timor rebels militarily
@@peekaboopeekaboo1165 China is the best
Australia is always playing China Card to every of its neighbours😂
3 Billion in aid. That's a lot of money with little to show for in terms of Infrastructure Development. Was this aid in health, infrastructure etc, was it boomarang aid as in PNG. The Belt Road initiative by China is a offer to poorer Pacific Nations that have been taken advantage off by The West The West only worries about their well being and prosperity and now are crying foul over an Independent Nation making its own decisions.
The colonizers of the Oceania continent treated these islanders as inferior races and paid no attentions to their development for 200 years, and when we Chinese come, they started to call them buddies and offer infrastructure and “care”. I am happy that we are making a change.
China has to make a move outwards because the Chinese have stripped their lands bare of food,drinking water and also their fishing grounds! China is only offering deals/gifts that benefit China in the long run. China is trying to force its way into alot of countries all over the world especially the pacific for its gains, they will strip everything completely and move on they only care about China. They are not a good country to deal with,do your research DO NOT take their word on anything.
It's a shame the West is crying foul and interfering with decisions made by our Independent Pacific Island Nations. Just a reminder of how the Australian government responded to First Island Nations People. It shows they clearly think and worry about themselves. BRICS are the next World transformers and the West is alarmed at the pace the ride is changing.
What a load of crap. Pure BS propaganda.
well stated
They thought mindset of all Solomon Islanders will remain the same. Now we started to realise their motives so the only way is to turn East. Thank you China
the solmon guy at the end spoke pure facts
Solomon islands will have a great future and prosper.I don't know why these western media all of a sudden want to now focus and speak of the country.Most of their audience never even heard of the place neither do they care about Solomon islanders.🇸🇧🤝🇨🇳We shall build the future
Your double standards are clear and appaling.. if you dont want solomon islands to have diplomatic ties with china bexause they are not democratic then why do you (Australia) have diplomatic ties with china with trade relations that you benefit from and enjoy... oh and btw, the mining site you were referring to was abruptly left and deserted by an Australian mining company..
60 minutes doing some real journalism once again 👏🏾 As a Solomon Islander I want further exposure being shone upon the exploitation and corruption being committed in my country and also the exploitation of resources on my home island Guadalcanal as shown here; where our land is used to benefit the pockets of pure outsiders. Sogavare must be ousted from his seat, cutomary landowners compensated and given fair lease agreements and corruption must be completely irradicated if we are to develop any further which is easier said than done.
then go vote out your prime minister that fool.
@@richtrandidn't you hear?
He can't be voted out until 2024; he postponed the elections.
@@susansuewwilliamsdidn't you read? He didn't write when, to vote him out.
Don't be deceive, read between the lines, I'm not sure if you're an indigenous islander, Australia and America doesn't want Solomon islands to know it potential and develop it country, that's how Anglo-Saxons control countries.
Australia has been controlling the Solomon islands for decades but no development; don't ever allow Australia and America to bully and control the island,if you do, then you'll start having political crisis and terrorism.
@@richtranstay away from their business, Anglo-Saxons spread terrorism around the world,you only bring chaos.
Wow $3billion in aid 😮 I don't think so is that money spent on developing infrastructure and the economy then why did Solomon islands turn to china instead now we can clearly see the visible china aid in infrastructure.. politics at its best good luck AUS
Australia spent billions to restore peace in Solomon Islands and help improving the country to where it was before Chinese entry.
Only a handful would see Aussie's efforts in that nation.
West wants the same thing as China, simple.
@@MarisaEroi-xl9lqthe handle is Taiwan 1450 online army
@@MarisaEroi-xl9lqsame crisis they were behind no?
Nope! That's Bougainville.
16:10 as a Solomon Islander, I think the kind of approach that those journalists applied to our Prime Minister is totally disrespectful, disgusting, and unacceptable as far as our culture is concerned. In our Melanesian way, there are better ways to approach important people, especially when one wants to discuss important issues of concern. I wonder if those journalists even understand protocols when it comes to VIPs. I hereby condemn those actions in the strongest term possible. What a shame!
Such approaches may be acceptable in the West, but not in our Melanesian context. Such disrespectful approach deserves a slap across the face.
Does the journalist exhausted all available avenues of making appointments (protocol) for an audience with our Prime Minister so that both of them can sit down and take the time to properly deliberate on those so-called pressing issues?
If that journalist is truly concerned about such issues; does he think by just asking one simple question to someone who is on a very tight schedule who is walking towards a waiting car would give him all the answers that he wants? Not even close. However, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is wise enough to keep moving as he has other important appointments to attend to than wasting his precious time on some biased and uninvited journalists.
This is the same old insane approach that all biased media journalists have been using for ages.
They deliberately approach their targets unannounced, especially during their busy schedules to make them appear like they are avoiding answering questions so that they can convince their viewers that their targets are trying to hide something. Please tell those journalists to go to hell with such a stupid approach! Shame on them! They need to be taught protocols as they seem to be illiterate and unprofessional in their approach.
So, from the outset, it is very obvious that those journalists are not interested in any answers from Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at all. All they want is the drama part when they approach him a few steps away from his waiting car so that he doesn't have the time to answer and that would appear to the viewers that the Prime Minister was avoiding questions, and that's the impression they want their viewers to have. It's a setup, which is very pathetic, especially from a media organisation like 60 Minutes, which always claimed to be digging for the truth in their investigations.
If they can find ample time to interview their puppet Celsius Talifilu and journalist Alfred Sasako on a very quiet and comfortable spot, why don't they do some justice by giving our Prime Minister the same opportunity so that he could take his time to explain his side of story to those issues? Again, it's that same old technique: approach him during his busy schedules so that he doesn't have the time to answer, and the viewers will be convinced that he is hiding something.
No VIP in his or her right mind would go to lengths discussing very important political issues with strangers along the road. Far from it, only a fool would buy that, and our Prime Minister is not some stupid kid on the street.
After all, Honourable Manasseh Sogavare is not a fugitive or a convicted criminal that deserves to be treated with such stupidity.
Yes, just like any other leader, he does have his own share of weaknesses, but he is our Prime Minister, lest you people forget. The Prime Minister of the sovereign state of Solomon Islands, so that journalist should be man enough to show him the respect he deserves whether he likes him or not.
Therefore, if that journalist wants an audience with him, just like other Head of State of all sovereign countries, there are protocols to follow, as simple as that.
Finally, concerning mining activities at Gold Ridge; the journalist deliberately failed to mention that that place had already been ripped off by Rose Mining Co. & St Barbra Co. two Australian owned companies for almost 30 years before that Chinese Company, which has just started its operations just two years ago, so who are you blaming here?
I have been a keen follower of 60 Minutes for many years now since they seem to be genuine in their coverage of important issues.
However, this one really strikes at home concerning issues I have very good knowledge about; so now I have proven for myself that 60 Minutes is no different from other biased media outlets.
Bye-bye and good luck with your biased journalism. Oops, I AM OUT!
well said..
Very true
Now you can see their strategy rite? Australia is always playing China card with its neighbours.
@@amorsemlimite4427 what do you mean?
@@Bride-on4gj Australia always play China card towards its neighbours. You have made valid points here.
What has Australia done for Solomon Island and the rest of Png? Nothing so far
Given it's name I am surprised it hasn't been claimed by Zionists !!
Australia just woke up from a long sleep. 😂
solomon island is smart to just take from both sides 😂
Australian government instead of talking about Solomon or people's why they don't help indigenous people of Australia
Australia spends AUD 40 Billion a year on indigenous assistance. There is a Minister for Indigenous Australians and indigenous Australians have eleven representatives in Parliament.
@petersinclair3997 what is the money spent on
And what is that 40 billion on indigenous communities it goes to the corrupt leaders where is the royal commission enquirery into what its spent on
Point of the story is, first world country should stop sending money to poor countries, let em figure it out.
Edit: Clearly 50 years of donation has changed nothing for em, so lets stop.
Solomon 🇸🇧 can't feel the money donated by Australia.
China 🇨🇳 is better choice for Solomon islands.
Australia did nothing for these people. But when china comes then panicy sets is hehehe pathetic
China already claimed some Philippines islands lying in the West Philippine Sea. We cant even fish on those waters. I salute our President for rejecting the project from China. Philippines will fight against this bully.
People need business to continue the flow of money,donations are temporary not permanent,your PM is brilliant and smart.
3 billion dollars aid? Where did they go? What are the conditions for the aid? Did you give them respect?
We Chinese come to Soloman Islands with infrastructure, respect and the prospect of a long-term friendship, without any restraint on them builing a good relationship with Australia or the U.S..
yeah aggressive loans to them repossessed the ports when they cant pay look at sri lanka
Brilliant report 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 keep the good work
what has Australia done for this country ask the locals ni hao mao China welcome to the Pacific lol
The Pacific Island nations must also take notes of what happened recently when Australia held their referendum and how they treated their First Nations people.
As the American First Nations people said .... white men speak with forked tongue.
First nation people / aborigines got flogged in the election because their cause was a joke and UN warrant Ed. They have been handed everything for decades but cant get away from blaming “whitey” for everything
If the indonesians got here first there wouldnt be any aboriginal peoples. Their expectations of continual free money without accountability is bs
As a First Nation person of Australia my advice to Solomon Island stick to China..
Australia is never around for the islanders need.. The Torres Strait Islands are sinking from rising tide... Where is its Government?
3 billion is bomaranga its goes back go Australia again. aid comes from their interest, its a good move songarave, Gold mine was sold by Rose mine minning to chineses company win win and Rose company is Australian company.
Comments allowed!
Interesting choice of title wordage
It’s sad to see our country is falling into the Chinese trap. But we grew up eating and live on Chinese goods and products..because Western products are just unaffordable..so for a country like Solomon Islands and other underdeveloped nations, it’s like a game of thrones. The ones that helps build the Empire sits on the throne.
A "Chinese Trap?" You have borrowed a Chinese adversarial terminology, which is used purposely to scare people away from China, but in reality, it doesn't make any sense at all. It's a shame that you have blindly used it yourself.
what trap you think it will be?
@@dann5515 I call it a Trap because when they, China fund or build constructions, like what they do in Vanuatu and other parts, when the government of that country doesn’t have the money, China literally takes over and own it for themselves..
@dann5515 a "TRAP" is not even the right word to be used in this context. A "TRAP" is a term coined by China's adversaries to scare other countries away from doing business with her.
However, in the case when China is lending out loans, the relevant regulations to ensuring service from the borrower should be applied. Again, it's not a trap. It's actually a win-win situation.
@Bride-on4gj you should be explaining this to comment above. I'm just asking him what traps he sees in.
A small economy like Solomon Islands if investing 3 billion dollars that would make a big difference. But nothing. ????
Umi na umi...❤🇸🇧💙💛💚
Its up to the Solomon Islanders to take a look and watch carefully since how come everybody now wants a hand in their Island..
Afganstan will never Forgive Australia Band from returning to see Wives and Children
It seems the major powers whether Australia, China and the United States are only interested in what the Solomon Islands can do for them. Aid is a gesture of soft power and public diplomacy.
China actually contributes solid investments.
The Australians and the Americans were happy to see the islands crumbling, once china started investing on investments you can see they went red
East vs West? Why is australia considered the west? Its literally located at the most eastern and southern part of the world
So there's nothing to the east of Australia then? Maybe think a little before posting something.
@@davcan18 💩 🤡
Western ideals, this isn't a hard concept to understand.
It's very simple. West=good. East (especially China)=bad.
@@joshlewis575
Funny false narrative.
Similar to State of Israel created by European Zionists ...they later decide to switched affiliation from Asia to Europe (eg. Asian Games).
Weirdly enough... Australia's right-wingers has no qualms switching from Oceania to Asia in regards to international Sports (eg. FIBA, AFC ...)
If Australia really spent $3 billion, it wouldn't have any problems, but I suspect Australia is double-counting cumulative aid or is spending its aid on administration.
12 years on youtube. First comment. Chinese bot!
What made you an expert on anything? What you suspect is irrelevant, because facts tell another story.
This dude is a bot or just a china loving, propaganda pushing, commie
Australia was silently trying to take over. The chinese beat them to it. That`s what happens when you have labour. One thing China and Africa have in common is labour. The west lack labour. That`s why they import work force from all over the world. 😜🤪
@@NeungViewwelcome to the commenting association 😂
Just a quick question. Is Australia located in the West or the East?
They are happy because of a stadium .. that’s what Greeks did to keep their populations quiet and obedient
and? there are sports stadiums all over this planet. your point is null. Way to state the obvious.
60 minutes a China Hawk channel🐍
Have you tried to book a date for a interview with Prime Minister for SI. Shouting questions to their leader at carpark doesn't count.
Thank you 60 Minutes Australia for sharing this video!
Whilst I appreciate the concerns raised by 60 minutes Australia, I am rather amused!
This is not a new topic and at that time some 40 years ago when alarm bells were ringing that another Bigger Brother(s) may enter the Pacific either Russia ( to build a rocket launch pad in Kavieng) or China and a PNG official in the Intelligence community raised this un-officially to Australian operatives in PNG and the Australian operative(s) said off the cuff that Australia is using Papua New Guinea as a buffer zone only to protect its investment in the PNG and is not too concerned which country comes into PNG or the Pacific and the famous lines comes into play "PNG and Pacific countries are sovereign nations and we cannot interfere with the Internal Affairs of PNG or any Pacific countries". I appreciate that! Why the panic now?
Australia did not allow Papua New Guineans and Pacific Islanders to seek working visas while on holidays in Australia several years ago! Only UK, Europe and other Nationalities were allowed! Australia officials at the airport took the shoes off Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare' s feet whilst travelling into Australia saying he may be hiding terrorist bomb inside his soles!
And now we see Islamic radicals entering Australia at free will without checking their shoes! These Muslim radicals are allowed to preach hate crimes in Australia! Australians that are brain washed and radicalized are allowed to raise funds to support Hamas terrorist activities in Gaza! Even the current Australian Prime Minister in his younger days have been an advocate of Islamic states. The recent unrest and civil disorder of Muslim radicals in Australian cities is very concerning and alarming to say the least! Is some Australian M.P.'s supporting Hamas terrorist in Gaza? Is Australia going down a negative downward spiral down under? Is Australia becoming a Islamic state?
We should be more concerned if Australia is going the path of becoming a Islamic state right at home rather than being too concerned of China or Russia entering the Pacific? Australia should be concerned of appointing equal representation of First Nations of all seats across Australia in the National Parliament in Canberra? Is Australia sitting on a time bomb? When the First Nations do not get equal representation and some of the First Nations get radicalized in Islam fundamentals and take up Jihads against other Australians then Australia will be in a most terrible state! These Islam radicals are flooding Australia like a trojan horse and will cause much damage from within!
I am concerned because I have relatives that have become Australian citizens and may get attacked by the Islam radicals!
Could 60 Minutes Australia run a story about how widespread is Islamic radicals in Australia? Thank you.
We will have a long wait for 60 Minutes to do a story on the Islamization of Australia...............Maybe AFTER they become an Islamic State !
Are you for real. China and Islam are both rotten influences in any country. Where is Islamic ideals strong in Australia ?
Well said brother 👏
Wan solwora from 🇻🇺🤙
Wow interesting infor...australia becoming pro-Islamic. Worst than china coming into the country.
Solomon Islands, PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, West Papua and others.must rise up !!!
That's the thing that a lot of politicians doesn't understand when they giving out hand outs money to the people. People want to be able to work, earn their honest living to provide for their own family and take pride in what they do. It's always better to teach a person how to fish themselves rather than just giving him a fish
60 years of Aid but nothing on the ground..😅😅😅😅😅😅
60 minutes??????
PNG 🇵🇬 and Fiji. Take note! 🙄
I love my Solomon Islands. I love my oceanic peoples.
That's what financially struggling countries normally do. No options.. money over resources.
God bless the former advisor. Please don't give up on your nation. Governments come and go, but the state or nation is your home until you leave this Earth.
Americans will treat these pacific islanders like Osage tribe in the movie Killers of the Flower Moon
Are Japan, Singapore, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, South Korea, India, Israel, considered east or west?
Everything is east and west depending on what part of earth you're looking down on on a globe.
@@elin_then why is australia considered the west? Its freakin at the most eastern and southern part of the world
They are call perpetrators 😂❤
@Nontacticalboy I don't know.. it doesn't make sense. I guess people call all developed countries western nowadays 🤷🏻♀️
US is in west that's why sheep is following the shepherd blindly but this time sheep is fake 😂 remember. West time is up and china will make east famous than any humans on earth period .. USA is old skool errrbody knows it 😂 it's time they admit and be safe if they love thy people. Amen❤
Solomon Islands be very honest in your dealings...its your people future you have in your hands .......
Who to blame?
For the past 15 years..😢😢😢😢 3billion only
now much more worried about Australia with Albanese in PM office
This program was prepared and presented with an agenda already in mind. The connotation that SI appreciates more Chinese partnership and aid over Australia and other western donors is far from the truth. The reporter alleged that Aussie hands over cash to SIG and watch is siphoned thru a corrupt system is also a very wild assumption. Australia has the strickest aid policy and all its money are channelled thru priority institutions like health education & law and order. So while you can put together a wonderfully researched article, it already has an anti china agenda from the start
Xi Ping is President for life.
"That's what the people wanted". 😢😢
Pal, you, and the people, are in big, big, trouble.
Wonderful journalism ❤️
Only mediocres would appreciate biased journalism simply because they are too lazy to do their own research.
I think solomon islamds should give visa for Australian,
visa fees should be 1000 dollars. solomon islanders to go to Australia they will appl for a visa and waited for ages and many their visa was rejected and they lost Thousands of dollars .
Solomon islands nation needs good leadership not politicians.
Lol. He’s not concerned he will take money from anyone.
This is a perfect example of what’s ultimately wrong here
listen up America. This could happen to us if we don't pay attention to what is happening in our world. We too can be experiencing this type of authority for the rest of our lives in America. Think when you vote.
China has been in East Timor also since the early 2000s doing the same thing.
Sasako: what is wrong with the Solomons
quite interesting how US sent the hospital to help Pacific Islander. What happened to the US citizen's medical cares?
For the Same building made by Australia would cost a million and Chinese would cost a quarter.
State media & journalists in 🇨🇳 are excellent, did you know poverty alleviation completed. CGTN the Point-Hub-Heat, Reporterfy-Cyrus Janssen
Mind your business hypocrites
Tell that to China
To the people of pacific Island nations : their debt trap is no MYTH, it's fact , do not allow them to usurp your country's resources , once contracted you are selling out your people's (citizen's) inheritance of land , resouces lost for decades into your future ! Think about it.
Come on,
Stop lying to yourself
🤔Fiji seems to have done great with taking on Chinese loans though.If I remember correctly they were sanctioned by the west due to a coup so they approached alternative countries like China,Russia,Brazil,South Africa etc.They did alot of development projects in their country and at the same time paid off the loans.I also read that China is helping them in many other updates in their infrastructure projects.Their citizens have been given visa free access to China,Russia and Brazil.They can do business and trade with these countries and build on relationships. Why can't Solomon islanders have the same prosperity?!?!?
Mandarin will rapidly become a language of trade in this region.
Australian aid comes in material form not money all the money was paid back to Australian companies China gave money not material aid😂😂
See Xinjiang.
See Hong Kong.
See Tibet.
3 billions in 15 years does not sound a lot. Let's be real.
Dang, that government really messed up and all for money.
Solomon Islands and other Pacific countries doesn't need Australia Aid, these countries need economic and Infrastructure developments which China is providing.
are u saying their government is corrupt?
medicine education policing or a football stadium whats more important
These AID given by the Australia government is not reaching the people at the grassroots level which means many of these AIDS ended up again in Australia or the Politician's pockets@@jurrac8505
Please name one economic development Australia have created in the Pacific.@@jurrac8505
Yes China is a better donor because money can be corruoted wheteby Oz money must be accounted for....
I'm not Australian so I'm not sure if your comment was sarcastic or not?
@@mikeygraves16Chinese bot!
@@NeungView Lol me or them?
@@mikeygraves16 Tofu-dreg Corruption
@@mikeygraves16Solomon Islands and other Pacific countries doesn't need Australia Aid, these countries need economic and Infrastructure developments which China is providing.
Hehehe, see how quick the panick sets in when China makes ouvertures to SI. Before that the SI was seen as just another Sh..th.le island close to Auzz.
Remember Solomon Islands are in the East, as Australia is in the East too.
I’m a Papua New Guinean and I acknowledge the arguments going for a pro-China stance. Maybe I’m a bit biased given most of our education system and institutions are derived from Australia (and by extension Britain), but I’d rather we maintain our ties with the West than getting into a full fledge partnership with China.
Chinese aid may have visible impacts on the ground, but we can’t be blaming Australia for our plight for over almost 50 years and cite neocolonialism as the basis. That’s blatant ignorance of the corruption that wreaks havoc in both PNG and SI.
Realistically, the West does business on a rules based regime that’s enforceable. All corporations in Australia must conduct their business within the confines of established laws. In other words, they can be held accountable.
China on the other hand is not a member of the OECD and does business on its own terms. The CPC will not hold these Chinese SOEs accountable. Why? They are simply an extension of the CPC itself.
If Chinese aid is predicated on the basis of getting kickbacks to develop natural resources, so be it. But as I’ve said, they are not confined to lawful commercial and industrial practices when developing these resources. Australia may also want kickbacks, but there is a guarantee that things will be done in a lawful and transparent manner, underpinned by accountability.
That is one adverse factor that PNG and SI must not lose sight of.
Australia flew 24 gold bar out unnotice
The Solomon Islands is a sovereign and independent country and has the right to have normal relations with any party that is more beneficial. Please stop using the Monroe Doctrine to treat this country.
Australia donated 3 billion dollars it would be good if you could elaborate
Solomon Islands needs China to make real changes for Solomon Islanders
Might be small input from CCP,,,but the lucrative incentive on the back pockets levels the equation,
Australian aid money coming into Solomon Islands was paid to Australian workers not to rural Solomon Islanders , this is aid money,
thats the choice people make... stop the press get out👉
Solomon prime minister should think again about China. Australia is the best for Solomon. Lot of Solomon people working in Australia to support their family. I don't see China taking Solomon people to work in China.
Okay Uncle Sambo you Losed
Yet as Americans, we can’t even get healthcare here at home. I’m totally for it in foreign nations but damn.