Australia deploys police, military to the Solomon Islands as protests spread

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister is blaming foreign powers for encouraging civil unrest in the Pacific nation, as Australian police officers arrive in the country to help quell rioting.

ABC News reports protests in the capital Honiara quickly spiralled out of the control of local police, with arson and looting in the Chinatown district and the city centre, and crowds threatening to disrupt parliament.

A mixture of grievances have fuelled the protests, but the government's decision in 2019 to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China is the main source of the conflict.

Speaking to the ABC from Honiara, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare stood by the decision to terminate diplomatic relations with Taipei, despite fierce and sustained criticism.

He dismissed other grievances protesters held about his government, insisting the divide over whether to recognise China or Taiwan was the sole source of conflict.

A contingent of 23 Australian Federal Police officers arrived in Honiara to bolster Solomon Islands' police force, following a request from Sogavare for help.

ABC News reports more police, army officers and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will follow today.

Sogavare thanked Australia for being a "best friend" to the Solomon Islands.

[Source: ABC News]