Chinese Flee Backlash From Pacific Cold War

Australia and New Zealand sent more troops to the troubled Solomon Islands yesterday as Chinese residents continued to flee violence sparked by claims of electoral corruption.

The former British protectorate, with a population of little more than 500,000, was the scene of riots and looting last week that destroyed many Chinese-owned businesses in the capital, Honiara.

Trouble flared last week when the islands' parliament chose Snyder Rini to be prime minister, amid allegations that his new government was corrupt and heavily influenced by local Chinese businessmen and Taiwan.

More than 50 troops from New Zealand arrived yesterday following the 25 soldiers and 30 police sent on Thursday. Australia, which already has 300 military personnel in Honiara, said yesterday that it would send 25 more to guard the airport.

Meanwhile, 150 Chinese refugees were airlifted out of Honiara yesterday after travelling to the airport under heavy security. They will join 90 other Chinese who flew to Papua New Guinea on Saturday on an aircraft chartered by Beijing. They may eventually travel on to China.

The Solomons - in common with many other Pacific island nations - is caught in a tug of war between Beijing and Taipei, both of which have lavished financial aid on the region in a battle for official recognition.

The Solomons is one of a handful that recognises Taiwan, although the Chinese mainland is trying to lure it away. A recent Australian senate report said diplomatic rivalries could harm stability and economic development in the South Pacific. It described the situation as a "Pacific cold war", with both sides using "chequebook diplomacy".

Taiwan's aid money is channelled through the prime minister's office rather than the finance ministry, with the result that it is being misused, the Solomons' opposition leader, Job Dudley Tausinga, said yesterday.

Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer, met Mr Rini on Saturday to discuss the tensions. Mr Rini is encouraging members of the small Chinese community - which controls much of Honiara's business sector - to stay, promising to help them recover their losses.