Relationship dossier
Solomon Islands
Taiwan
Relationship assessment
Development cooperation gave way to a diplomatic rupture after Solomon Islands switched recognition in 2019.
Solomon Islands toward Taiwan
-40Solomon Islands maintained formal relations with Taiwan and received its development assistance before switching recognition to the People’s Republic of China in 2019, ending formal relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan toward Solomon Islands
-30Taiwan maintained formal relations with Solomon Islands and provided development assistance before the 2019 switch. Taiwan ended official ties and associated government cooperation after Solomon Islands recognized the People’s Republic of China.
Overall relationship
-35The relationship combined longstanding diplomatic and development cooperation with a decisive break in 2019, when Solomon Islands switched recognition to the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan’s official relationship ended. The rupture is the defining feature of the current bilateral structure.
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
Solomon Islands maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan and received Taiwanese development assistance before switching recognition to the People’s Republic of China in 2019. The switch ended formal Solomon Islands–Taiwan relations. Taiwan then ended its official relationship and associated government cooperation with Solomon Islands. The history includes sustained assistance followed by a sharp diplomatic rupture.
Areas of tension
- Solomon Islands’ 2019 switch of diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China.
Key developments
Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China, ending formal relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan ended its official relationship with Solomon Islands following the recognition switch.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of unofficial contacts after the 2019 diplomatic break is unclear.
- The scale and implementation of Taiwanese assistance before the switch are uncertain.