China accused of using aid to influence political order in Solomon Islands

The head of Transparency Solomon Islands and the leader of the parliamentary independence group have claimed that China is deliberately manipulating the political order in Solomon Islands using aid money – but the prime minister disagrees.

Independence caucus leader Peter Kenilorea Jr told Radio New Zealand Pacific that Chinese aid through the Rural Sustainable Development Program (RSDP) was being used to “convince opposition people to join the government” so members could access the money.

Kenilorea said the RSDP was being abused because the Department of Rural Development, which is part of the executive government, implemented the projects on behalf of China.

“It is unfair to the constituency because it appears to be a discretionary power of the executive (government),” he said.

“They want to convince people to join the government so they can get funding.

“I know that some of my colleagues in the opposition have not even received a penny from the new allocation from the ministry.”

Kenny Lorea said he believes both China and the government are responsible for this political manipulation.

“This is essentially the same government, the same government that established diplomatic relations with China; so I think from China’s standpoint, they would like those like-minded people to still be in power.”

Ruth Liloqula, chief executive of Transparency Solomon Islands, agreed with Kenny Lorea that the situation is forcing MPs to abandon the party banner or independence they supported in the April general election and join the pro-China government.

Lilokula said the application process for RSDP was vague, but lawmakers needed to apply through the Chinese embassy.

“Beijing decides which projects to fund, and most of them belong to members of parliament in the executive government.”

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele refuted Kennylorea’s claims.

“After elections, all over the world you find MPs who want to be in government because once they are in government they have the ability to influence policy and budgets,” he told RNZ.

“China’s support to the Ministry of Rural Development is for all 50 constituencies, and all 50 constituencies have a set process for applying for and receiving funds, so the government is not using these funds to win over MPs.”

In a letter dated April 20, 2023 and seen by RNZ Pacific, the Solomon Islands Department of Rural Development called on councillors to apply for the RSDP.

The selection criteria state that “submission of a proposal does not automatically qualify the district for funding” and that selection “shall be based on the merits of the proposal.”

Kenilorea said the Chinese Embassy said it would monitor the implementation of his project if his application was successful.

“That’s when I said, ‘No, no, this is money coming directly from Beijing; you are another country; you cannot police how other countries’ lawmakers use the money you provide’.”

Until last year, China was contributing to the much-criticised Constituency Development Fund (CDF), but this has been replaced by the RSDP, which has a similar purpose to the SDP, namely supporting rural development initiatives.

The CDF is still operational but is currently funded only by Solomon Islands. Members of Parliament have broad powers to allocate funds and therefore have indirect control over CDF funds as they personally appoint constituency development officers who control and manage the projects.

In some cases, lawmakers have been accused of using the fund for personal gain.

Bilateral aid from other countries (including aid from the New Zealand High Commission in Honiara) is provided by community members applying directly for aid projects, completely bypassing MPs.

Kenny Loria said he rejected the RSDP application and instead asked his community to apply directly to the Chinese Embassy, ​​thus excluding him, which he said they did.

He said he did not know why the Chinese embassy did not allow the community to apply directly for project funding, but instead outsourced implementation to a department of the Solomon Islands government.

Lilokula said that without RSDP funds, “politicians can compete on a level playing field for government formation”.

She said China’s aid projects needed to be more transparent.

“I think in the Solomon Islands we should treat every donor equally – but that’s not happening,” she said.

“We should be asking them the same question; it’s happened with other donors and other people, but it’s not happened with China.”

Massey University associate professor Anna Powles said there were “real concerns” about how the RDSP was being used.

“It may contribute not only to elite capture but also to shaping development outcomes and political outcomes.”

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, when asked about his level of concern about Chinese influence He was in Honiara on Wednesday.He said he did not come to the Solomon Islands to talk about China.

“We remain committed to being a reliable, trustworthy partner in the Pacific region and remain focused on that.”

RNZ Pacific sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands, including asking whether the Chinese Embassy was involved in the RSDP approval process; why China stopped donating to the CDF; and whether China is manipulating the political order in the Solomon Islands.

People-to-people bond

Last month, Kenilorea photographed two billboards in Honiara promoting China’s involvement in the CDF and RSDP.

Although China no longer provides donations to CDF.

“They are well aware that they have not donated to the CDF,” Kenilorea said. “The other program, the Sustainable Rural Development Program, that program is OK.”

Kenilorea said China was still working to win the “hearts and minds” of the Solomon Islanders since the Solomon Islands government broke away from Taiwan and joined China in 2019.

“They still feel that more needs to be done in this regard and I think a large part of the population in Solomon Islands is still not convinced why this shift has to happen; so, I think they are still continuing with the outreach, advocacy or publicity that they do.”