Solomon Islands riots reflect deeper unrest

Civil unrest in the Solomon Islands is not surprising and highlights long-standing development and governance challenges, according to experts at ANU. Civil unrest in the Solomon Islands is not surprising and highlights long-standing development and governance challenges, according to experts at The Australian National University (ANU). While the Solomon Islands government's decision in 2019 to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China has been reported as the main source of the conflict, ANU experts say deeper issues have caused the unrest, which has seen protests in the capital Honiara and opportunistic looting. Fellow at the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs Dr Kerryn Baker said the unrest highlights much deeper issues in the Solomon Islands. "These latest riots are due to the underlying unrest that has been boiling away in the Solomon Islands for many years," Dr Baker said. "The response by the Australian Government is not without precedent. Past assistance missions have helped restore peace." Distinguished Policy Fellow at the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and former Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, James Batley said, "Australia's deployment of security personnel to the Solomon Islands was a reminder of the previous RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands) intervention.