Daniel Suidani, the former premier of the Solomon Islands’ Malaita Province, became a hero among China watchers after he challenged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence operations in the region, refused a bribe, and barred CCP-linked companies from operating in his province.
The punishment came swiftly. He was ousted from his position, and when he fell ill and needed brain surgery, he was denied access to care—until Taiwan finally came to his rescue.
I had the rare opportunity of sitting down with Suidani and his adviser Celsus Talifilu when they were on a trip to the United States.
The story of Suidani and the Solomon Islands is a window into the Chinese regime’s tactics across the Pacific, and even here in North America, as it expands its influence, bribes the powerful, and co-opts strategic resources.
In 2019, the Solomon Islands, which had long recognized Taiwan as the true seat of the Chinese government, switched this formal recognition to the People’s Republic of China.
Recently, Parliament voted to delay elections to accommodate a big event funded by China, the Pacific Games. There’s evidence that suggests the Parliament members who supported the change received about 200,000 SBD per person (about US$24,000), from a CCP-linked slush fund.
Interview trailer:
Watch the full interview: https://www.theepochtimes.com/exclusive-daniel-suidani-reveals-the-chinese-regimes-tactics-in-the-pacific_5278636.html
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Jan Jekielek: Premier Daniel Suidani, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders.
Premier Daniel Suidani: Thank you for having me. Thank you very much.
Mr. Jekielek: Welcome to America. I was very happy to hear you yesterday testifying at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China about the Chinese Communist Party influence in the Solomon Islands, and the big changes that have happened there. I want to go back to 2019. You wrote the Auki Communique which said, number one, you don’t want the province to be working with Chinese Communist Party-affiliated companies. Number two, you highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party is an atheist enterprise, whereas Malaita Province, of all the Solomon Islands, is a Christian enterprise, and to watch out for that. Please tell me about this and what happened.
Premier Suidani: We came up with a communique, a set of principles that we believe can guide the people in future development. We have seen the destructive and dishonest ways of these Chinese companies involved in the provinces, particularly in Malaita, that are exploitative. They have been getting resources. They don’t care whether it damages the environment, as long as they get what they want from the people. That’s all they want.
The Malaita provincial people are Christian people, and they believe in God. The CCP, commonly known as the communists, don’t believe in the same principles and values and truth that we believe in. We have faith. It would be very difficult for us to work together with these two different beliefs, these different values and faith.
The second element of the communique is that the provincial government will not allow any company that is linked with the CCP. We must make sure that any company operating in Malaita must not be related to a CCP-connected company.
Mr. Jekielek: China provided a loan, something to the tune of $66 million, for 27 Huawei cell towers to be developed in the area, and you blocked that. It was from that moment that things started to change for you. Can you tell me about that change? What happened?
Premier Suidani: They forced the non-executive government motions of no confidence against our government. I believe I am the only premier to face three motions of no confidence. The latest one when I was ousted is likely one of the reasons for them to put the motion against me.
Mr. Jekielek: Beforehand, you were a very popular premier, a popular member of parliament. Of course, you were elected premier, and that means you must have been popular. How could you lose a vote of non-confidence? How did that happen? Actually, there were three of them.
Premier Suidani: Because the whole aim of the government is to get the Chinese companies into Malaita. They would like me to be out of the premier’s office so that they can come in and do their developments in whatever way they want to do them. I believe they are behind the motions,