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13 Seeking Protection

Abstract

Ten months after the smoke had settled in Honiara, martial arts expert Wanghu was putting his class through its paces in Buala village, on the north coast of Santa Isabel Island. Over several days in October 2022, Wanghu led a group of forty young girls and boys from Buala through a kung-fu course, teaching them basic self-defence skills. He was a representative of the China Police Liaison Unit (CPLU), who had been making global headlines since their arrival in Solomon Islands in early 2022. For the most part, foreign observers framed Sogavare’s determination to establish the security pact with Beijing as part of a grand geopolitical struggle between East and West. Sogavare’s security partnership with China had also tempered the likelihood of widespread unrest in the future. The Solomon Islands community may have been sceptical of China, but many also feared its brutality, especially the Chinese style of policing.

Abstract

Ten months after the smoke had settled in Honiara, martial arts expert Wanghu was putting his class through its paces in Buala village, on the north coast of Santa Isabel Island. Over several days in October 2022, Wanghu led a group of forty young girls and boys from Buala through a kung-fu course, teaching them basic self-defence skills. He was a representative of the China Police Liaison Unit (CPLU), who had been making global headlines since their arrival in Solomon Islands in early 2022. For the most part, foreign observers framed Sogavare’s determination to establish the security pact with Beijing as part of a grand geopolitical struggle between East and West. Sogavare’s security partnership with China had also tempered the likelihood of widespread unrest in the future. The Solomon Islands community may have been sceptical of China, but many also feared its brutality, especially the Chinese style of policing.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Dedication v
  3. Contents vii
  4. Map of Solomon Islands ix
  5. Milestones in the History of Solomon Islands xi
  6. Introduction 1
  7. I Island Universe 11
  8. 1 ‘Afuera! ’ 15
  9. 2 Jungle Road 25
  10. II Restive state 33
  11. 3 Running Aground 35
  12. 4 Manasseh of East Choiseul 49
  13. 5 Maasina Men 71
  14. III The switch 83
  15. 6 Devil’s Night 85
  16. 7 Escape from Adeliua 100
  17. 8 The Games 112
  18. 9 Rivers of Gold 120
  19. IV Rebellion 131
  20. 10 ‘No Need China!’ 133
  21. 11 Wuhan Window 148
  22. 12 Honiara Burning 165
  23. V Twisted iron 175
  24. 13 Seeking Protection 177
  25. 14 Red Line 188
  26. 15 Arc of Anxiety 201
  27. VI Where the North Road ends 211
  28. 16 Henderson Concession 213
  29. 17 East to Fataleka 225
  30. 18 Mustafa Rising 244
  31. 19 Making a Martyr 260
  32. Epilogue 271
  33. Notes 285
Divided Isles
This chapter is in the book Divided Isles
https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526178367.00024

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Dedication v
  3. Contents vii
  4. Map of Solomon Islands ix
  5. Milestones in the History of Solomon Islands xi
  6. Introduction 1
  7. I Island Universe 11
  8. 1 ‘Afuera! ’ 15
  9. 2 Jungle Road 25
  10. II Restive state 33
  11. 3 Running Aground 35
  12. 4 Manasseh of East Choiseul 49
  13. 5 Maasina Men 71
  14. III The switch 83
  15. 6 Devil’s Night 85
  16. 7 Escape from Adeliua 100
  17. 8 The Games 112
  18. 9 Rivers of Gold 120
  19. IV Rebellion 131
  20. 10 ‘No Need China!’ 133
  21. 11 Wuhan Window 148
  22. 12 Honiara Burning 165
  23. V Twisted iron 175
  24. 13 Seeking Protection 177
  25. 14 Red Line 188
  26. 15 Arc of Anxiety 201
  27. VI Where the North Road ends 211
  28. 16 Henderson Concession 213
  29. 17 East to Fataleka 225
  30. 18 Mustafa Rising 244
  31. 19 Making a Martyr 260
  32. Epilogue 271
  33. Notes 285
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