BY CHRIS ALEX
Solomon Islands Ambassador to China, Barrett Salato reaffirms his support for the One-China Principle, declaring it the bedrock of Solomon Islands’ China relations.
Speaking at the “China Through My Lens” video competition prize ceremony in Honiara on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Salato emphasised that both past and present Solomon Islands administrations have maintained a consistent and clear stance on the One-China Principle, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognises the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan.
“There is only one China in the world and the People’s Republic of China is the only sole legal government that represents the whole of China,” declared Salato.
He calls on all national leaders in Solomon Islands to respect the sovereign decision taken by the government in 2019 to align with the One-China policy, a move he said placed the country “on the right side of history”.
Salato pointed to a growing list of development projects and aid contributions that highlight the deepening cooperation between China and Solomon Islands.
Among the most notable are;
-State-of-the-art national sports facilities, including a modern stadium and training venues currently considered the best in the Pacific.
-The Comprehensive Medical Centre (CMC), which provides specialised healthcare services for the first time in the nation’s history.
-Medical exchange programmes, with Solomon Islands professionals currently undergoing training in China, and Chinese doctors deployed to local hospitals.
-The Auki Road Project in Malaita Province, a major infrastructure development fully funded by China that is expected to enhance economic activity in the region.
-Continued cooperation in education, with 160+ scholarships awarded to Solomon Islands students to study in China in diverse fields such as medicine, engineering, and communication.
-Ongoing initiatives in trade, civil aviation, agriculture, law enforcement, fisheries, and people-to-people exchanges.
Salato said we don’t need a billboard to see the impact of China’s contributions.
“You can see with your own eyes the tangible development benefits our relations have brought to this country,” he said.
The ambassador’s speech also carried an implicit message that aims to counter regional and domestic critics of the country’s foreign policy orientation.
He reiterated that the Taiwan issue is a domestic affair of China and urges Solomon Islands leaders to place national interests first when engaging in regional diplomacy.
The ambassador’s comments follow similar reaffirmations by Solomon Islands Prime Ministers during bilateral declarations in 2023 and 2024, and come shortly after the China Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers Meeting in Xiamen, where the One-China Principle was again upheld.
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