More than a hundred people arrested in the Solomon Islands riots who are destroying China’s relations? | Riots | Solomon Islands | Honiara_Sina News

Original title: More than a hundred people were arrested in the Solomon Islands riots. Who is involved in the destruction?

　　There are no reports of casualties of Chinese compatriots.

　　Beijing News reporter Zhu Yuehong

　　After days of riots and arson attacks, thick smoke filled the air in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, and rubble was everywhere on the ground.

　　According to information from the Solomon Islands police on November 27, local time, the police found three people dead near the Chinatown in the capital Honiara that day. After preliminary confirmation, the deceased were not Chinese citizens. In addition, more than 100 suspects related to the riots and robberies in Honiara in the past few days have been arrested.

　　According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), on November 24, thousands of people held an anti-government demonstration in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, which triggered riots. During the riots, many shops, schools, and even the prime minister’s residence were set on fire by mobs. Solomon Islands is now facing shortages of food, fuel and cash.

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　　The riot killed 3 people,

　　No reports of casualties of Chinese compatriots

　　According to a report by Agence France-Presse on November 27, the Solomon Islands police said on the same day that three scorched bodies were found in a burnt shop in the Chinatown of Honiara, the capital. This is the first reported death of a person since the local area experienced multiple days of violent demonstrations.

　　According to information from the Solomon Islands police on November 27, local time, it was initially confirmed that the deceased was not a Chinese citizen. The Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands has asked the local police to verify the situation and conduct a comprehensive investigation through the local overseas Chinese delegation. So far, there have been no reports of casualties of Chinese compatriots.

　　On November 24, more than 1,000 people demonstrated in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sogavare. The prime minister’s residence, parliament building and other buildings were set on fire or smashed.

　　Although the country’s Prime Minister Sogavare ordered a blockade in the capital that night, the local Chinatown was still attacked on November 25, and many Chinese merchants’ shops were beaten, smashed, looted and burned.

　　The anti-government riots in the Solomon Islands continued to ferment. On November 26, local time, the police and the anti-government rioters continued to confront each other.

　　After the riots lasted for 3 days, a curfew was imposed in the capital area. According to the British “Guardian”, on the morning of November 27, the streets of Honiara were relatively quiet, and locals began to assess the damage caused by the riots that lasted for several days.

　　Currently, the Solomon Islands is facing shortages of food, fuel and cash, and many people have lined up in front of ATMs and gas stations.

　　According to the Solomon Times, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) stated that more than 100 suspects were arrested in connection with the riots and robberies in Honiara in the past few days.

　　“I must make it very clear here that no one can be above the law.” Police Commissioner Mostine Mangau said.

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　　Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands

　　Remind Chinese citizens to take precautions

　　Political riots broke out in the Solomon Islands, affecting local Chinese shops. The Guardian reported that in Chinatown, except for a few buildings managed by local security personnel, most of the buildings were set on fire. A few local Chinese shops were attacked by rioters.

　　In view of the severe local security situation in the Solomon Islands, the Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands attaches great importance to it and reminds Chinese citizens to strengthen security precautions.

　　On November 25, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference that China is highly concerned about the current developments in the Solomon Islands and supports the Solomon Islands government’s efforts to stop violence and rebellion. I believe that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sogavare, the government can restore social order and stability as soon as possible. We have expressed serious concern about the attacks on some Chinese citizens and Chinese-funded institutions, and have asked the government to take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions there.

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　　United States may be

　　External forces instigating riots

　　The British “Guardian” analyzed that this violent demonstration was caused to a certain extent by long-term unemployment and dissatisfaction with the current government.

　　Some experts said that the long-term hostility between Maraita and Guadalcanal helped fuel the conflict.

　　The Associated Press reported that the Solomon Islands is located in the South Pacific and has a population of 700,000, mainly composed of Melanesians, Polynesians, Micronesians, Chinese and Europeans. Guadalcanal is the largest island in the Solomon Islands and the island where the capital Honiara is located. The island of Malaita is the second largest island in the Solomon Islands and the most populous province.

　　The Associated Press report further pointed out that the residents of Marletta Island moved to Guadalcanal for economic opportunities in the capital Honiara, which intensified inter-ethnic tensions in the Solomon Islands and eventually led to unrest. .

　　“Solomon Times” reported that on November 26, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare made a speech, accusing individual politicians of inciting riots, saying that they would not give in to the rioters and would never resign under pressure.

　　Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare also pointed out that the riots were instigated by forces that wanted to prevent the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and China.

　　The New York Times quoted Mihai Sora, a former Australian diplomat in the Solomon Islands, as saying on November 25 that the Solomon Islands has been at the center of geopolitical competition in recent years. After Sogavare came to power in 2019, the Solomon Islands government decided to sever the so-called “diplomatic relations” with the Taiwan authorities and establish diplomatic relations with China.

　　According to Xinhua News Agency’s 2019 report, on September 21, China and Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Manele stated that the Solomon Islands recognizes that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. It will abide by the one-China principle and always respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

　　Xinhua News Agency reported that Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, responded to an inquiry on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Solomon Islands on September 23, 2019. Adhering to the one-China principle is the norms of international relations and the universal consensus of the international community. 179 countries have followed the trend of the times and established formal diplomatic relations with us. This historical trend will continue to develop.

The New York Times pointed out that Malaita Island continues to maintain contact with the Taiwan authorities, which violates the position of the central government of Solomon Islands. The United States has also provided foreign aid directly to Malaita Island, deepening the rift within the country.

　　“External forces are trying to undermine the establishment of diplomatic relations between China, but I don’t want to point out who the external forces are.” Sogavare said, “The decision by the Taiwan authorities to sever the so-called’diplomatic relations’ and establish diplomatic relations with China is in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.”

　　In this regard, on November 26, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference that as everyone knows, the one-China principle is the norm in international relations, and it is the popular will and the general trend. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Exchange is in line with the trend of the times and is the correct choice that can stand the test of history. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Society relations have made great progress, and pragmatic cooperation between the two sides in various fields has achieved fruitful results, and has received sincere support and support from the people of the institute. Facts have proved that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Exchange is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the country’s development. Any attempt to disrupt the normal development of China-Sino relations is futile.

Editor in charge: Liu Guangbo