Clive Bibby: Defence alliances that will work for us

l wonder why our Prime Minister is placing so much importance on unconfirmed high level talks with President Chi of China just before the election. One might argue that he could better spend his time at home dealing with internal problems- some of which are of his own making, rather than trying to impress an overseas dictator of his competence to lead and speak on behalf of an inconsequential little country at the bottom of the South Pacific.

At the same time, it is interesting to note the flurry of activity amongst those Pacific Nations who are rightly alarmed by Chinese expansionist policies that could seriously affect their and our ability to trade with the rest of the world.

Ross Meurant: CRYPTO - A weapon of War?

According to a reliable source, on 1 June 2023 China will open a bank via Hong Kong for crypto trade.

Eighteen months ago, China banned crypto. (1)

Why the change in policy, one might ask?

With a predicted 20 trillion US dollars set to flow from mainstream banking into China’s crypto, one might conclude that this is but another weapon of the cold war between USA and China.

Ross Meurant: War With China and Russia?

The trouble with Elections, is invariably they encourage utterances from some who want to be a political leader, to say pretty dumb things.

Boris Johnson and President Biden are classics- too many examples to bother reciting here but both, in my view, seek to deflect poor polling back home by promoting chaos in another country.

In the case of America, this model has also, long been adopted to ensure jobs back home within the Military Industrial Complex.

Australian Defence Minister Dutton’s recent, “Prepare for war with China and Russia”, also fits into this category – in my assessment.  Afterall, its looking to be a close election in Oz.

Perhaps if Aussie had paid more attention to Solomon Islands?  Too late now. 

Clive Bibby: Chinese expansion that should be worrying us all

It is understandable that the world is focusing most of its attention on the Russian invasion of Ukraine at present but for us down here in the South Pacific, there are significant developments taking place right under our noses that should concern us more.

I refer of course to the pending signing of an agreement between the Solomon Islands and China that would allow access to ports in our part of the world by China’s military fleet. Presumably, that accommodation would be followed by development aid that would inevitably lead to that Island nation surrendering its sovereignty and facilities to a Super Power whose intentions are demonstrably expansionist and controlling and could threaten our own ability to trade with the rest of the world.

This move is straight out of China’s Communist Party textbook aimed at world domination.