US reopens Solomons embassy, vying with China for influence

THE United States reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands today after a 30-year hiatus, part of a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the South Pacific.

Re-establishing the diplomatic outpost was a renewal “of our commitment to the people of Solomon Islands and our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region”, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.