Chinese Government donates first batch of riot gear to Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (linked to project ID#97214)

On December 23, 2021, the Chinese Government agreed to donate riot equipment (captured via Project ID #93528) and provide six police liaison officers (captured via Project ID #93529) to equip and train the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF). The riot gear includes shields, helmets, batons, and other non-lethal equipment. On December 29, 2021, the Chinese Ambassador officially handed over a batch of riot equipment as it arrived at the Henderson International Airport. This was part of a larger donation, and a second batch of riot gear worth SBD 12 million arrived in February 2022 (see project ID#97214). Nine Chinese police liaison officers arrived in the Solomon Islands in March 2022 to train RSIPF officers in anti-riot strategies. The monetary value of this donation is unknown. In 2019, Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare withdrew recognition of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Malaita Province, an island struggling with unemployment and poverty, maintained informal ties with Taiwan. The premier of Malaita Province, Daniel Suidani, even held an independence referendum in 2020, which the national government dismissed as illegitimate. At the same time, Chinese businesses across the Solomon Islands were accused of giving jobs to foreigners instead of locals. Between November 24 and 27, 2021, a series of protests in the Solomon Islands against relations with the PRC turned violent. Protesters attempted to storm Parliament and depose Prime Minister Sogavare. Businesses, mainly in Honiara's Chinatown district, were burnt and looted. A police station was set on fire. The government responded by deploying the police in which they used tear gas. Australia deployed the Australian Federal Police and Defence Force. Papua New Guinea and Fiji dispatched peacekeepers while New Zealand deployed police and troops.

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