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Tensions in the Pacific: US calls for defense of democracy in Solomon Islands

2022-08-07T10:07:28.456Z


In the Taiwan Strait, China is showing a massive military presence, which may also threaten in the South Pacific: the island state of Solomon Islands is establishing ties with China. The US responded with a diplomatic offensive.


Enlarge image

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (2nd from right) in the Solomon Islands

Photo: Dion Isaacson / AFP

In the Solomon Islands, an island nation in the South Pacific, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has called for democracy to be defended.

"It's time to decide if we want governments that are transparent and accountable to their people," she said.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal between the USA and Japan, which was then allied with Nazi Germany, Sherman did not name any names.

But she said that "some in the world" have forgotten the cost of wars or ignored the lessons of the past.

Sherman's visit is part of a US diplomatic offensive in the region.

This included the visit of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, to Taiwan.

It was the highest-ranking US visit to the island's democratic republic in a quarter of a century;

this has increased tensions with China.

China claims Taiwan as its own.

It sees the island as part of the People's Republic, threatens to conquer it and vehemently rejects official contacts with other countries.

China responded to Pelosi's visit with military exercises across the Taiwan Strait, due to end on Sunday.

Taiwan has accused China of simulating an attack on the main island.

USA worried about their influence

It is the largest military show of force against Taiwan since missile exercises in the mid-1990s, when the United States deployed two aircraft carriers to the Taiwan region.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the exercises as an "irresponsible threat" not only in the Taiwan Strait but also for the entire region.

And in that region, the US worries about its waning influence.

Hence the diplomatic offensive - and therefore Sherman's visit to the Solomon Islands.

In April it became known that the island state and China had signed a far-reaching security agreement.

The Solomonic government around Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also took steps to restrict press freedom and toyed with the idea of ​​postponing the elections.

The US and Australia have long viewed with concern that China could set up a naval base in the South Pacific.

During her visit, Sherman reiterated Washington's will to strengthen cooperation with the "absolutely important" Pacific island states - including by opening US embassies in Tonga, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

hba/AFP/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-08-07

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