By the end of the 19th century, the Western Nations and Japan managed to carve up most of the world into colonies among themselves. While that was no longer possible after World War II, a new strategy for domination, euphemistically called “spheres of influence”, has replaced colonialism with largely similar but more subtle outcomes.
Is the Solomon Islands an Australian colony?
Previously:
The ongoing violence in Myanmar may have faded into the background of global media coverage as much more intense conflict shapes up within and along Ukraine’s borders in Eastern Europe and as Washington raises the prospect of direct conflict with China in Asia. However, Myanmar’s conflict serves as a point of destabilization which may impact the wider stability of Southeast Asia and thus undermine China in a more indirect but still significant manner.
Myanmar Violence: a Slow Burn US Proxy War
The misbegotten notion that the South Pacific is a US sphere of influence
For its part, the U.S. has neglected the Solomon Islands and taken the country for granted for many years, and it is only when it seems to be drifting towards Beijing’s orbit that our government can be bothered to pay close attention. There hadn’t been a U.S. embassy in Honiara for almost 30 years until it announced it was being reopened earlier this year, and even that was justified as an anti-Chinese move. Washington says that it believes that small states should be able to decide for themselves about how to make their security arrangements and decide their foreign policy orientation, but it doesn’t adhere to that line when a government builds closer ties with China.
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Many Western analysts grossly exaggerated the size and importance of an agreement between China and Iran last year with references to an “axis” or an “alliance” that doesn’t exist. More recently, the Pentagon has been sounding the alarm over a possible Chinese naval base in Equatorial Guinea that isn’t being built and wouldn’t pose much of a threat if it did exist.
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The U.S. cannot neglect small nations and then expect them to fall in line when U.S. officials finally show up to complain about their relations with other states. If the U.S. wants to cultivate stronger ties with Pacific and Asian nations, it will have to make a consistent effort to work with these governments on issues of common interest. Insofar as the U.S. treats these states primarily as pawns in a rivalry with China, our government should not be surprised when some of them opt to cooperate more closely with China.
Related:
China Announces Signing of Security Pact With Solomon Islands Amid Biden’s Attempt to Sabotage Deal
Australia and the US have tried to persuade the Solomon Islands to reconsider signing a security agreement with China. A high-level delegation is scheduled to arrive in Honiara this week as Washington sought to prevent the island nation from forging a security pact with Beijing.
China Announces Signing of Security Pact With Solomon Islands Amid Biden’s Attempt to Sabotage Deal
Related:
U.S. team is off to Solomon Islands amid concern over draft security pact with China
Solomon Islands: A Risky Move Out From Under Western Control
New cold war neocolonialism: West threatens Solomon Islands over China alliance
The Solomon Islands are in the process of cementing into place a security pact with China. According to an alleged leaked draft, this pact includes provisions allowing the Solomon Islands to request the presence of Chinese police and military personnel to “assist in maintaining social order, protecting people’s lives and property, providing humanitarian assistance, carrying out disaster response, or providing assistance on other tasks” agreed upon by the Solomon Islands and China.
Solomon Islands: A Risky Move Out From Under Western Control
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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