China's New Ambassador to Solomon Islands

Who is Ambassador Cai Weiming?

On 11 Dec, Cai Weiming (蔡蔚鸣) arrived in Honiara to assume his new post as China’s new Ambassador to Solomon Islands.

Unlike his predecessor, Li Ming, who was an expert in Oceanian affairs, Cai has spent most of his career focussed on the Middle East and North Africa. Indeed, prior to his latest appointment, Cai had been serving as Deputy Director-General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Whilst details of his career are scarce, publicly available information reveals that Cai has held senior positions at the Chinese Embassy in Israel, including stints as chargé d’affaires ad interim, and at the UN as an Alternate Representative on the Security Council, covering topics such as Sudan/South Sudan, Libya, Syria, and Counter Terrorism.

Chinese diplomats will quite often specialise in - and then focus on - a specific geographic region. It is, therefore, not immediately apparent as to why Cai was selected for this role.

Interestingly, Cai’s predecessor is also currently working out of his comfort zone serving as Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, having spent most of his career focussing on North American and Oceanian affairs.

Cai’s appointment comes not long after the close of the 2023 Pacific Games, which were held in Solomon Islands for the first time. The US and China are currently engaged in a geostrategic competition for influence in the region, and this year’s Pacific Games were no exception.

Since China and Solomon Islands established ties in 2019, the Pacific Games have been a recurring theme in their relationship. Indeed, when the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, first met Li Ming upon his arrival in 2020, he took the opportunity to thank China “for its funding assistance towards the 2023 Pacific games”, saying that “[t]he Pacific Games was something we wanted to host for a very long time. This will be our first opportunity”.

Delivering on its promise, China has helped build seven sports facilities, including but not limited to, a 10,000-seat stadium. The Guardian reported that in total, China spent $119m, all of which was framed as a “gift” from China to Solomon Islands.

Not wanting to be left out of the 2023 Pacific Games, the US confirmed earlier this year that it would send its hospital ship USNS Mercy to provide medical assistance for the duration of the games. NBC Papua New Guinea reported that 3000 patients were treated on-board.

Much to the US’s concern, China and Solomon Islands signed a security pact in 2022, before then upgrading their relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in 2023.

It is possible that Cai’s experience dealing with issues relating to security and political instability was a deciding factor behind his recent posting. Solomon Islands has had multiple episodes of political instability over the years, with the most recent taking place in 2021, which saw the targeting of ethnically Chinese residents, as well as the looting and torching of businesses in Honiara’s Chinatown.

In response to the riots, MFA Spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated that the “Chinese side is taking all necessary measures to protect the safety and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and institutions in Solomon Islands”.

When a draft of the 2022 security pact was posted online, it was not surprising to see the ability for Solomon Islands to request Chinese police and armed forces “to assist in maintaining social order, protecting people’s lives, and property” included in the scope of cooperation.

The draft also allows China to send “relevant forces” for the purposes of “protect[ing] the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands”. The two countries have since signed more agreements relating to policing and law enforcement.

After news of the 2022 security agreement broke, it was speculated that this could lead to China establishing a naval base in the country. Whilst both governments have denied the possibility of this, the draft does state that Chinese vessels would be permitted to “make ship visits to, carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands”- but only with consent from the host government.

Therefore, when it was reported earlier this year that the China Civil Engineering Construction Company had won a contract to upgrade ports in Honiara, paid for by a loan from the Asian Development Bank, concerns that the international port’s facilities could become “dual purpose” were once again raised.

Chinese companies have won a number of key infrastructure contracts in Solomon Islands in recent years, including a contract to build mobile communication towers –built by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, supplied by Huawei and paid for by a loan from Exim Bank of China.

In response to China’s growing influence in the country, the US has increased the amount of aid it sends there, and re-opened its embassy in Solomon Islands, after a 30-year absence.

Since his arrival last week, Cai Weiming has already formally presented his letter of credence to Governor-General Sir David Vunagi, had a meeting with the Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands Patteson Oti, as well as met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Cai has also attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese funded medical centre, and a ceremonial Exchange of Notes on a feasibility study for the tar sealing of the Auki Road Network.

With the ever-increasing cooperation between Solomon Islands and China, Cai will certainly be kept busy. Stability in Solomon Islands is obviously a priority for China, and, as the new ambassador, Cai will have been tasked with ensuring Chinese interests are protected from any further local unrest.