'Proxy War Between Taiwan and China' in Solomon Islands of the South Pacific... Deaths Occur in Anti-Government Protests

A store in Chinatown, Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, is on fire. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The first fatality has occurred amid intense anti-government protests against the pro-China government in the South Pacific island nation of the Solomon Islands.

On the 27th (local time), according to major foreign media including the British daily The Guardian, a store called 'OK Mart' in the Chinatown area of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, was set on fire by protesters, and three bodies were found inside.

Reports indicate that the three were in the same room, and cash boxes and money were scattered on the floor. The bodies were severely burned to the extent that identification was difficult. Local police stated that a forensic team is currently investigating, and the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

The capital of the Solomon Islands, which consists of several islands with a population of 700,000, is located on Guadalcanal Island, but the most populous area is Malaita Island, adjacent to Guadalcanal. Residents of the two islands have long experienced ethnic and political tensions, with Malaita Island residents expressing dissatisfaction, claiming that the central government has neglected them for a long time.

In 2019, when the Sogavare government severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established relations with China, Malaita Island residents opposed this and even expressed intentions for independence. Malaita Island has been influenced by Western countries such as the United States and Australia, receiving $25 million in aid from the U.S. last year, but the Sogavare government is known to receive support from China.

Meanwhile, as the economic situation worsened due to the spread of COVID-19, Malaita Island residents have launched large-scale protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sogavare.