Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

US opens embassy in Solomon Islands, eyeing China

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Feb 2023 14:41
2 Min Read

The US State Department told lawmakers early last year that China's growing influence in the region made the reopening of the Solomon Islands embassy an urgent priority.

  • x
  • US opens embassy in Solomon Islands in efforts to provoke China
    US soldiers salute during a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the opening of the US embassy in Honiara of the Solomon Islands, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. The United States opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands on Thursday in its latest move to counter China's growing influence. (AP)

In the latest efforts to push China's influence away from the Asia-Pacific region, the US opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands on February 2 in the capital city, Honiara, US official sources reported on Thursday. 

According to reports, the opening of an embassy coincides with Fijian leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, seeking to assess some aspects of his country's relations with China.

The US State Department told lawmakers early last year that China's growing influence in the region made the reopening of the Solomon Islands embassy an urgent priority.

Read more: 1st US-Pacific Summit under fire for inadequate Biden proposal

Regional powers in the Pacific have pumped aid into the region's islands during the COVID-19 pandemic to help them cope with the economic fallout, as the competition for influence between China and the West intensifies.

Related News

Trump approves Patriot missiles to Ukraine, bills EU for costs

Russia slams US-Denmark military pact as threat to its security

According to an annual study published by the Australian Lowy Institute, "financial assistance allocated to the Pacific Islands increased by 47% in 2020 compared to the previous year."

"There has been a massive increase in loans," said senior researcher Alexander Dayant, stating that the total funding rose to $4.2 billion, a record high roughly equivalent to Fiji's gross domestic product.

Dayant added that, "a large part of the new spending was driven by the crisis, as tourism and trade declined due to the islands closing their borders to avoid the outbreak of the coronavirus," noting that, "The Pacific region faced enormous support needs and suffered a major economic downturn."

Overall, Pacific island economies shrank by 6.4% in 2020, double the global average, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund.

The Solomon Islands and China inked a security pact in late March 2022, and Australia and the UK are worried that the pact, whose details have not been made public, could be a step toward a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 km away from Canberra, prompting an increase in tensions amid an already inflamed region. China has denied that is has plans to militarize the island.

Read more: US pours $600M into the Pacific to "counter China's influence"

  • United States
  • US-China competition
  • Solomon Islands
  • China

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS