The power struggle between China and the USA has a new theater: the Solomon Islands. And Beijing has scored a veritable coup there with a so-called security agreement. However, behind the supposedly altruistic international cooperation lie far-reaching goals and interests. Today’s analysis explains why the small archipelago between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu has become an important power factor in the Pacific. This has startled the US and its allies to the point that some are already raving about a US military intervention.
Meanwhile, Beijing has launched a surprising charm campaign – and its target is none other than longtime rival India. Because Delhi does not support Western sanctions against Russia, Beijing believes it has removed its southern neighbor from the fold of Western democracies. Our author team in Beijing reports that India’s supposed bond with China has other reasons – and is therefore quickly reaching its end. In any case, China’s latest advances have been coldly dismissed.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to today’s profile. This time it is about the “Da Bai” (大白) – China’s covid fighters with their white disposable protective suits. Fabian Peltsch shows how the once celebrated helpers have turned into thuggish guards over the course of the Covid pandemic – and how China’s Internet users are reacting to this transformation.
The power struggle between China and the USA has a new theater: the Solomon Islands – a small archipelago in the South Seas, located between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Just a few weeks ago, its geographical location would probably have been described as “at the end of the world”. But for a few days now, the group of islands with its population of just 700,000 has been at the center of the Pacific power struggle between the United States and China.
The trigger is a diplomatic coup by China: With a “security agreement” signed a few days ago, Beijing turned a decades-old critic into an ally. Even before that, Solomon’s Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had been persuaded to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan after 36 years and several million US dollars from Taipei. But now Sogavare is betting on Beijing. His rationale: He wants to give the population a better life and address the security threats they face.
So China would have every reason to celebrate. But instead of popping the champagne corks, the leadership in Beijing refrained from any fanfare. Even the signing of the agreement remained secret at first – as did its exact terms.
But now a draft of the agreement has accidentally been leaked to the public – and a look at its contents shows why China has been so careful. The draft agreement lists far-reaching concessions to China: It states that “Chinese ships may make visits, carry out logistical replacement, and stopover in Solomon Islands” as needed and with the Solomon Islands’ consent. Chinese forces would also be authorized “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands” It is the legal framework for Chinese security and naval operations in the Pacific nation consisting of dozens of islands.
Neighboring nations believe it represents an even bigger goal: China wants to establish a base in the South Pacific. This would then allow the Chinese navy to extend its power far beyond its current sphere of influence.
“It is a dangerous agreement,” Malcolm Davis assesses. Speaking to China.Table, the analyst from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra explains that “through the agreement, China could extend its military presence far into the Southwest Pacific through diplomatic means, in a way that threatens Australia, New Zealand and the United States.” This is because the Solomon Islands are much closer to Australia and New Zealand than they are to China. “I think their plans are to establish a permanent military presence in the island nation as quickly as possible.”
The decisive factor in all this is the strategic location of the archipelago; it perfectly suits China’s geostrategic ambitions. To understand it, it is necessary to know the so-called Island Chain Strategy: The concept was conceived in 1951 by US foreign policy official John Forster Dulles to use a chain of naval bases to contain the Soviet Union and China in the Western Pacific, thus limiting their access to the sea. This idea of containment is what China tries to break – and with the Solomon Islands, Beijing would indeed succeed to get behind a first island chain of Taiwan, the Koreas, and Japan.
China would also occupy the central SLOC (sea line of communication) between Australia and the United States. These sea lines are essential for trade and logistics, but also for the deployment of naval forces. “In peacetime, the Chinese would have the ability to intercept vital intelligence and information from here, arguably as far away as adjacent US facilities in Hawaii,” Davis explains. “And in times of conflict, key Australian military bases and urban areas would suddenly be threatened by the Chinese.” Moreover, with a base on the Solomon Islands, China would gain an additional A2AD capability. A2AD stands for anti-access area denial – the ability to deny or at least impede an enemy’s access and movement in an area of operations.
Turmoil is correspondingly high. US diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink, who is in charge of the region, immediately traveled to the Solomon Islands to consult with the government. At the end of his several-day visit, he said last Tuesday that Washington would “respond accordingly” should Beijing plan to establish a military base on the archipelago. Kritenbrink refused to speculate on whether Washington would take military action in that event. But he left no doubt about the anger and determination of the United States.
Previously, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison had declared such a move by Beijing to be a “red line”. And New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also warned against a “potential militarization of the region.”
All these words of warning reveal one thing above all: China’s rise shakes up the balance of power in the Pacific. Old alliances must be strengthened in time before China pokes into emerging loopholes. The Australian government, for example, can be accused of neglecting long-standing partners. America, on the other hand, has raised serious doubts about its reliability in the past, especially under President Donald Trump.
In the meantime, China tries to calm the situation: Cooperation with the Solomon Islands is “open, transparent and inclusive,” according to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. It was not aimed at a third party, but merely complemented existing security cooperation mechanisms. In short, there is absolutely no reason for such an uproar.
Last Wednesday, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare assured that the agreement did not include permission for China to establish a military presence. Rather, he urged critics to respect the country’s sovereign interests. “We entered into an arrangement with China with our eyes wide open, guided by our national interests,” he said.
And yet doubts remain. If China is indeed allowed to transfer ships and military personnel to the Solomon Islands – as provided by the draft – there is no immediate need for a physical military base for the time being. A contractually assured, readily available port of call would certainly suffice for China as a first step.
A look at the Horn of Africa shows how things could then continue in the Solomon Islands; after all, things were similar in Djibouti: There, too, Beijing first signed a security agreement – and gradually developed a naval base over the years, which Beijing, however, still describes as a purely logistical facility.
These days, a world map has been making the rounds on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Twitter accounts. Spokesman Zhao Lijian even seems so fond of it that he has pinned it at the top above all his other tweets. “The ‘international community’ you always hear about,” the image says. Below is a picture of a world made up only of North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Everything else is blue ocean.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, China has taken a new offensive with its narrative of an isolated West. Admittedly, Beijing has a point. The sanctions are in fact primarily supported by a Western alliance consisting of the United States, Europe, and other allies. Other major players on the world stage are absent. Most notably, China and India – the world’s two most populous nations. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated this point during his visit to Berlin on Monday.
However, Beijing tries to create another narrative – and this is where it gets things wrong: China wants to create the impression that anyone who has not sided with the West in the Ukraine conflict automatically represents Beijing’s line. This became surprisingly clear during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to his southern neighbor in March.
China and India should speak with “one voice,” Wang said during the visit, which was scheduled on short notice at Beijing’s request. He also expressed hope that India-China relations would return to normal after the bloody clash in the Himalayan border region two years ago (China.Table reported). At least 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed in an incident in the summer of 2020.
But his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, downplayed chances of a rapprochement. He stated that border negotiations were “in progress.” But relations could not normalize as long as territorial disputes remained unresolved, Jaishankar said after the meeting with Wang. China’s state media, however, did not mention India’s criticism.
Instead, the focus was on the will to cooperate – and the fact that both states are not joining the sanctions against Russia. There was also no mention of the fact that Wang was not allowed to meet with Modi. There was not even a red carpet for him. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on the other hand, who arrived in India shortly after Wang, was granted all the honors: a red carpet and a meeting with Modi.
It is well known that Narendra Modi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin get along excellently. India buys oil, gas and, above all, weapons from Russia. Moreover, Delhi has strongly intertwined its security and defense policies with Moscow over the years. According to estimates, about 85 percent of India’s military equipment is of Russian or still Soviet origin. So it is not just new deals that are at stake, but also the maintenance and spare parts that ensure India’s security against Pakistan and also China.
It is a balancing act for India: On the one hand, it wants to maintain good relations with Russia, but unlike Beijing, it has found clear words on the war in Ukraine. For example, the Modi government has strongly condemned the Bucha massacre. Delhi has certainly realized that the Beijing-Moscow axis could become a threat in the long term. That is why it has turned to the West in recent years. India currently builds a strategic partnership with the US, which is also expressed in increasing defense cooperation. It also wants to expand cooperation with the EU (China.Table reported).
Together with Japan, the USA and Australia, India also forms the so-called Quad Group. The four countries want to expand their involvement in the Indo-Pacific and thus stand up to China (China.Table reported). Other countries in the region are also concerned about China’s expansionism. India’s relations with Russia may be complicated. What is clear, however, is that Delhi does not believe that relations with China will relax anytime soon. Gregor Koppenburg/Joern Petring
They dance and fight, smash down front doors, test house cats for Covid-19, and sometimes get kicked around by old ladies – the so-called Da Bai (大白), China’s Covid helpers in white disposable protective suits have become a symbol of the lockdown craze in the People’s Republic. The nickname, which translates as “big white,” derives from the friendly, inflatable robot Baymax from Disney’s eponymous animated film.
Under the polyethylene suits are police officers and medical personnel, but also volunteers from all professions and walks of life. Foreigners have also joined the appeal to give something back to China, as the state-run Shanghai Media Group reported. Some “Da Bai” have written encouraging slogans on the back of their suits: “Shanghai, you can do it!” Or, “When this is over, we’ll all have a milk tea together!” If you’re going to seal off a metropolis of 26 million with dystopian-looking plague troops, at least do it in a friendly manner.
During the Covid outbreak in Wuhan in 2020, these white helpers were already staged by state propaganda as heroes on the front line. They were seen disinfecting buildings around the clock, sticking swabs down throats, taking fevers, and distributing food. They often did not even get to take off their suits to go to the bathroom, it was said. Despite such inconveniences, the “Da Bai” allegedly always kept a cheerful demeanor. But because it’s hard to see that under the face masks, plastic hinges and hoods, China’s state media happily shared videos of protective suit choreography. For example, an article from Xi’an at the beginning of the year went viral, in which the white giants performed a rabbit dance to the pop song “Penguin’s Game”.
But China wouldn’t be China if its citizens didn’t do their own thing as far as possible. Videos of “Da Bai” sword fighting, Covid testing of fish and chickens, Jackass-like stunts and disinfection frenzies on deserted streets are circulating on social media channels. Even on China’s dating apps, lasciviously opened protective suits are now a selfie trend.
However, many videos that have circulated recently no longer show the “Da Bai” as cute chaotic characters, but as violent and obedient Stormtroopers who seem to be out of control on a quarantine death star. The list of documented incidents is as long as it is horrific: There are “Da Bai” yelling in citizens’ faces with megaphones, killing pets, and forcing elderly people into quarantine centers against their will.
Meanwhile, the Covid helpers are even referred to as “White Guards,” in reference to the Red Guards, who culminated their newfound power in a sadistic fashion during the Cultural Revolution. The outrage over the “Big Whites” actually suits the government, says Rana Mitter, professor of Chinese politics at Oxford University in an interview with the JapanTimes newspaper. “They divert the anger of the population away from the central authorities.”
Earlier this week, footage surfaced of such empty white suits being lashed in front of building entrances to keep residents from going out the door. The “Da Bai” has now become a scarecrow – let’s see how long the population will allow itself to be scared off by it. Fabian Peltsch
The sunshine breaks through a light cloud cover over Changchun, the capital of the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin. It could be taken as a symbol of the eased Covid restrictions in the city. On Sunday, the authorities set all districts of the metropolis to “low risk” status. This significantly expands the freedom of movement of citizens.
The power struggle between China and the USA has a new theater: the Solomon Islands. And Beijing has scored a veritable coup there with a so-called security agreement. However, behind the supposedly altruistic international cooperation lie far-reaching goals and interests. Today’s analysis explains why the small archipelago between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu has become an important power factor in the Pacific. This has startled the US and its allies to the point that some are already raving about a US military intervention.
Meanwhile, Beijing has launched a surprising charm campaign – and its target is none other than longtime rival India. Because Delhi does not support Western sanctions against Russia, Beijing believes it has removed its southern neighbor from the fold of Western democracies. Our author team in Beijing reports that India’s supposed bond with China has other reasons – and is therefore quickly reaching its end. In any case, China’s latest advances have been coldly dismissed.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to today’s profile. This time it is about the “Da Bai” (大白) – China’s covid fighters with their white disposable protective suits. Fabian Peltsch shows how the once celebrated helpers have turned into thuggish guards over the course of the Covid pandemic – and how China’s Internet users are reacting to this transformation.
The power struggle between China and the USA has a new theater: the Solomon Islands – a small archipelago in the South Seas, located between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Just a few weeks ago, its geographical location would probably have been described as “at the end of the world”. But for a few days now, the group of islands with its population of just 700,000 has been at the center of the Pacific power struggle between the United States and China.
The trigger is a diplomatic coup by China: With a “security agreement” signed a few days ago, Beijing turned a decades-old critic into an ally. Even before that, Solomon’s Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had been persuaded to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan after 36 years and several million US dollars from Taipei. But now Sogavare is betting on Beijing. His rationale: He wants to give the population a better life and address the security threats they face.
So China would have every reason to celebrate. But instead of popping the champagne corks, the leadership in Beijing refrained from any fanfare. Even the signing of the agreement remained secret at first – as did its exact terms.
But now a draft of the agreement has accidentally been leaked to the public – and a look at its contents shows why China has been so careful. The draft agreement lists far-reaching concessions to China: It states that “Chinese ships may make visits, carry out logistical replacement, and stopover in Solomon Islands” as needed and with the Solomon Islands’ consent. Chinese forces would also be authorized “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands” It is the legal framework for Chinese security and naval operations in the Pacific nation consisting of dozens of islands.
Neighboring nations believe it represents an even bigger goal: China wants to establish a base in the South Pacific. This would then allow the Chinese navy to extend its power far beyond its current sphere of influence.
“It is a dangerous agreement,” Malcolm Davis assesses. Speaking to China.Table, the analyst from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra explains that “through the agreement, China could extend its military presence far into the Southwest Pacific through diplomatic means, in a way that threatens Australia, New Zealand and the United States.” This is because the Solomon Islands are much closer to Australia and New Zealand than they are to China. “I think their plans are to establish a permanent military presence in the island nation as quickly as possible.”
The decisive factor in all this is the strategic location of the archipelago; it perfectly suits China’s geostrategic ambitions. To understand it, it is necessary to know the so-called Island Chain Strategy: The concept was conceived in 1951 by US foreign policy official John Forster Dulles to use a chain of naval bases to contain the Soviet Union and China in the Western Pacific, thus limiting their access to the sea. This idea of containment is what China tries to break – and with the Solomon Islands, Beijing would indeed succeed to get behind a first island chain of Taiwan, the Koreas, and Japan.
China would also occupy the central SLOC (sea line of communication) between Australia and the United States. These sea lines are essential for trade and logistics, but also for the deployment of naval forces. “In peacetime, the Chinese would have the ability to intercept vital intelligence and information from here, arguably as far away as adjacent US facilities in Hawaii,” Davis explains. “And in times of conflict, key Australian military bases and urban areas would suddenly be threatened by the Chinese.” Moreover, with a base on the Solomon Islands, China would gain an additional A2AD capability. A2AD stands for anti-access area denial – the ability to deny or at least impede an enemy’s access and movement in an area of operations.
Turmoil is correspondingly high. US diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink, who is in charge of the region, immediately traveled to the Solomon Islands to consult with the government. At the end of his several-day visit, he said last Tuesday that Washington would “respond accordingly” should Beijing plan to establish a military base on the archipelago. Kritenbrink refused to speculate on whether Washington would take military action in that event. But he left no doubt about the anger and determination of the United States.
Previously, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison had declared such a move by Beijing to be a “red line”. And New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also warned against a “potential militarization of the region.”
All these words of warning reveal one thing above all: China’s rise shakes up the balance of power in the Pacific. Old alliances must be strengthened in time before China pokes into emerging loopholes. The Australian government, for example, can be accused of neglecting long-standing partners. America, on the other hand, has raised serious doubts about its reliability in the past, especially under President Donald Trump.
In the meantime, China tries to calm the situation: Cooperation with the Solomon Islands is “open, transparent and inclusive,” according to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. It was not aimed at a third party, but merely complemented existing security cooperation mechanisms. In short, there is absolutely no reason for such an uproar.
Last Wednesday, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare assured that the agreement did not include permission for China to establish a military presence. Rather, he urged critics to respect the country’s sovereign interests. “We entered into an arrangement with China with our eyes wide open, guided by our national interests,” he said.
And yet doubts remain. If China is indeed allowed to transfer ships and military personnel to the Solomon Islands – as provided by the draft – there is no immediate need for a physical military base for the time being. A contractually assured, readily available port of call would certainly suffice for China as a first step.
A look at the Horn of Africa shows how things could then continue in the Solomon Islands; after all, things were similar in Djibouti: There, too, Beijing first signed a security agreement – and gradually developed a naval base over the years, which Beijing, however, still describes as a purely logistical facility.
These days, a world map has been making the rounds on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Twitter accounts. Spokesman Zhao Lijian even seems so fond of it that he has pinned it at the top above all his other tweets. “The ‘international community’ you always hear about,” the image says. Below is a picture of a world made up only of North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Everything else is blue ocean.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, China has taken a new offensive with its narrative of an isolated West. Admittedly, Beijing has a point. The sanctions are in fact primarily supported by a Western alliance consisting of the United States, Europe, and other allies. Other major players on the world stage are absent. Most notably, China and India – the world’s two most populous nations. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated this point during his visit to Berlin on Monday.
However, Beijing tries to create another narrative – and this is where it gets things wrong: China wants to create the impression that anyone who has not sided with the West in the Ukraine conflict automatically represents Beijing’s line. This became surprisingly clear during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to his southern neighbor in March.
China and India should speak with “one voice,” Wang said during the visit, which was scheduled on short notice at Beijing’s request. He also expressed hope that India-China relations would return to normal after the bloody clash in the Himalayan border region two years ago (China.Table reported). At least 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed in an incident in the summer of 2020.
But his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, downplayed chances of a rapprochement. He stated that border negotiations were “in progress.” But relations could not normalize as long as territorial disputes remained unresolved, Jaishankar said after the meeting with Wang. China’s state media, however, did not mention India’s criticism.
Instead, the focus was on the will to cooperate – and the fact that both states are not joining the sanctions against Russia. There was also no mention of the fact that Wang was not allowed to meet with Modi. There was not even a red carpet for him. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on the other hand, who arrived in India shortly after Wang, was granted all the honors: a red carpet and a meeting with Modi.
It is well known that Narendra Modi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin get along excellently. India buys oil, gas and, above all, weapons from Russia. Moreover, Delhi has strongly intertwined its security and defense policies with Moscow over the years. According to estimates, about 85 percent of India’s military equipment is of Russian or still Soviet origin. So it is not just new deals that are at stake, but also the maintenance and spare parts that ensure India’s security against Pakistan and also China.
It is a balancing act for India: On the one hand, it wants to maintain good relations with Russia, but unlike Beijing, it has found clear words on the war in Ukraine. For example, the Modi government has strongly condemned the Bucha massacre. Delhi has certainly realized that the Beijing-Moscow axis could become a threat in the long term. That is why it has turned to the West in recent years. India currently builds a strategic partnership with the US, which is also expressed in increasing defense cooperation. It also wants to expand cooperation with the EU (China.Table reported).
Together with Japan, the USA and Australia, India also forms the so-called Quad Group. The four countries want to expand their involvement in the Indo-Pacific and thus stand up to China (China.Table reported). Other countries in the region are also concerned about China’s expansionism. India’s relations with Russia may be complicated. What is clear, however, is that Delhi does not believe that relations with China will relax anytime soon. Gregor Koppenburg/Joern Petring
They dance and fight, smash down front doors, test house cats for Covid-19, and sometimes get kicked around by old ladies – the so-called Da Bai (大白), China’s Covid helpers in white disposable protective suits have become a symbol of the lockdown craze in the People’s Republic. The nickname, which translates as “big white,” derives from the friendly, inflatable robot Baymax from Disney’s eponymous animated film.
Under the polyethylene suits are police officers and medical personnel, but also volunteers from all professions and walks of life. Foreigners have also joined the appeal to give something back to China, as the state-run Shanghai Media Group reported. Some “Da Bai” have written encouraging slogans on the back of their suits: “Shanghai, you can do it!” Or, “When this is over, we’ll all have a milk tea together!” If you’re going to seal off a metropolis of 26 million with dystopian-looking plague troops, at least do it in a friendly manner.
During the Covid outbreak in Wuhan in 2020, these white helpers were already staged by state propaganda as heroes on the front line. They were seen disinfecting buildings around the clock, sticking swabs down throats, taking fevers, and distributing food. They often did not even get to take off their suits to go to the bathroom, it was said. Despite such inconveniences, the “Da Bai” allegedly always kept a cheerful demeanor. But because it’s hard to see that under the face masks, plastic hinges and hoods, China’s state media happily shared videos of protective suit choreography. For example, an article from Xi’an at the beginning of the year went viral, in which the white giants performed a rabbit dance to the pop song “Penguin’s Game”.
But China wouldn’t be China if its citizens didn’t do their own thing as far as possible. Videos of “Da Bai” sword fighting, Covid testing of fish and chickens, Jackass-like stunts and disinfection frenzies on deserted streets are circulating on social media channels. Even on China’s dating apps, lasciviously opened protective suits are now a selfie trend.
However, many videos that have circulated recently no longer show the “Da Bai” as cute chaotic characters, but as violent and obedient Stormtroopers who seem to be out of control on a quarantine death star. The list of documented incidents is as long as it is horrific: There are “Da Bai” yelling in citizens’ faces with megaphones, killing pets, and forcing elderly people into quarantine centers against their will.
Meanwhile, the Covid helpers are even referred to as “White Guards,” in reference to the Red Guards, who culminated their newfound power in a sadistic fashion during the Cultural Revolution. The outrage over the “Big Whites” actually suits the government, says Rana Mitter, professor of Chinese politics at Oxford University in an interview with the JapanTimes newspaper. “They divert the anger of the population away from the central authorities.”
Earlier this week, footage surfaced of such empty white suits being lashed in front of building entrances to keep residents from going out the door. The “Da Bai” has now become a scarecrow – let’s see how long the population will allow itself to be scared off by it. Fabian Peltsch
The sunshine breaks through a light cloud cover over Changchun, the capital of the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin. It could be taken as a symbol of the eased Covid restrictions in the city. On Sunday, the authorities set all districts of the metropolis to “low risk” status. This significantly expands the freedom of movement of citizens.
