Chinese influence is spurring violence in the Solomon Islands
But corruption and unequal development rankle even more
THE EVENTS that unspooled in the Solomon Islands on November 24th were from an old script. Protesters from Malaita, the most populous island, crossed to the biggest, Guadalcanal, with grievances over corruption and inequality. They called for the prime minister to go. Near parliament in Honiara, the capital, the protest descended into violence. Three days of looting in the city left much of Chinatown destroyed. Three people died in burning buildings. The damage runs to millions of dollars. It will be a long haul back to normality.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “A familiar script”
From the December 4th 2021 edition
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