INFLUENCE CONCERNS
Regional governor Martin Fini, who oversaw the swift expansion of Chinese interests on the island of Malaita, earlier lost his re-election bid, according to the election commission.
The province of Malaita refused for years to accept aid or investment from China, bucking the trend as Beijing’s influence expanded across the rest of the sprawling archipelago to Australia’s northeast.
That changed when Fini was installed as the province’s premier in 2023, replacing the popular Daniel Suidani.
Fini recently signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Jiangsu province but his failure to retain his seat puts that agreement in doubt.
Beijing’s embassy in the Solomon Islands has praised Fini’s “firm support” of China, promising to pave his province with better roads and provide it with better internet.
