Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Solomon Islands
Relationship assessment
A growing partnership shaped by diplomatic realignment, security cooperation and Chinese development assistance
People's Republic of China toward Solomon Islands
+45China has provided development and infrastructure assistance to Solomon Islands and concluded a security cooperation agreement with its government in 2022, expanding practical bilateral cooperation.
Solomon Islands toward People's Republic of China
+45Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of China in 2019 and concluded a security cooperation agreement with China in 2022, establishing closer government-level ties.
Overall relationship
+45The relationship has developed into a substantive partnership since Solomon Islands' 2019 diplomatic realignment. Security cooperation and Chinese development assistance are major features, although the partnership is recent and the security agreement has attracted regional concern.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Since Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China in 2019, the two governments have expanded cooperation. Their 2022 security cooperation agreement and Chinese development and infrastructure assistance are significant bilateral initiatives. The partnership remains relatively recent, and the agreement has prompted concerns about its scope and regional implications.
Areas of tension
- Concerns about the scope and regional implications of the 2022 security cooperation agreement.
Key developments
Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China.
China and Solomon Islands concluded a security cooperation agreement.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of the security cooperation agreement are unclear.
- The breadth and durability of bilateral development and infrastructure cooperation are uncertain.