Explainer-China, health system top issues as Solomon Islands holds national election

The Solomon Islands holds a national election on April 17, the first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed a security pact with China that prompted concern from the United States and South Pacific neighbours. Sogavare has pledged closer ties with China, which has built infrastructure since Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, while opposition parties favour ties with Western aid donors including Australia, and pledge to fix a broken health system. The national election was delayed from 2023, after Sogavare said he wanted to focus on the Pacific Games, hosted in stadiums donated by China.