Hung Parliament in Solomon Islands, Taiwan Keeps watch

Taiwan is keeping an eye on political developments in Solomon Islands as the island nation prepares for a change in leadership. The election will determine the future ties between the two countries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Andrew Lee said the ministry and its embassy in the Solomon Islands are keeping in close contact with each of the political parties in the country following the April 3 general elections, that did not give any party a parliamentary majority. Since no party won a majority, Lee says the Solomon Islands is likely to form a coalition government. "But there are too many variables to determine when that coalition will be formed. We will make sure to keep close and friendly relations with every major political figure to ensure our diplomatic relations remain stable with the new administration."

However, there are reports citing the caretaker Prime Minister Rick Hou saying that they will review their country's diplomatic relations with Taiwan if elected to power. And this raises the potential of a diplomatic switch from Taipei to Beijing. The high claims of support are typical in the country where party loyalties are constantly shifting, which is why it is impossible to know what the winning coalition will look like or how it will approach relations with Taiwan.