Solomon Islands unrest

Context: Australia has announced sending police, troops and diplomats to the Solomon Islands to help after anti-Government demonstrators.
Issue

• The Solomon Islands’ decision to switch its diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing has been blamed for arson and looting in the national capital Honiara, where protesters are demanding the prime minister’s resignation.

This is line with ‘One China’ principle.

• China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and wants to bring the island back into its fold. 
• Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949 and set up a rival government.
• Now only 16 countries worldwide continue to recognise Taiwan as an independent state. India is not among the sixteen countries.
• With a population of 660,000, the Solomon Islands were easily Taiwan’s largest remaining ally in the Pacific. Its economy relies on agriculture, fishing and forestry, and the country has a wealth of undeveloped mineral resources.
• The Solomon Islands are located directly between Australia and the U.S. and was the site of fierce battles during World War II.

?Solomon Islands

• Solomon Islands is a sovereign country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.
• Its capital, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal.
• The country takes its name from the Solomon Islands archipelago, which is a collection of Melanesian islands that also includes the North Solomon Islands (a part of Papua New Guinea).
• It excludes outlying islands, such as the Santa Cruz Islands and Rennell and Bellona.