14.6 C
Athens
Τρίτη, 5 Νοεμβρίου, 2024

‘China funded over USD 130,000 to Solomon Islands newspaper for favourable coverage’

Περισσότερα Νέα

- Advertisement -

In a significant development, a prominent news company in the Solomon Islands has reportedly received an astonishing sum of more than USD 1,30,000 from the Chinese government. According to The Asian Age, the funds were provided to the news company in exchange for their commitment to “promote the truth about China’s generosity and its true intention to help develop” the Pacific island nation. This revelation was brought to light through a funding document and emails that were thoroughly examined by BenarNews, a news organization affiliated with Radio Free Asia (RFA).

Solomon Islands’ diplomatic shift to China in 2019 created a flashpoint for the Chinese-American conflict in the Pacific region. A security agreement with China raised concerns among the US and its allies, including Australia, over the potential for a Chinese military presence in the area.

According to a funding proposal made to the Chinese embassy in July 2022 by the proprietors of the Solomon Star newspaper and Paoa FM radio station, the collaboration will benefit Beijing by “promoting China as the most generous and trusted development partner in the Solomon Islands.”

As per, The Asian Age, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, supported by nonprofit organizations and government agencies, has uncovered a pay-for-play agreement, breaking the story for the first time. The project’s Pacific reporting is funded by a no-strings-attached US government grant.

Meanwhile, records examined by BenarNews have revealed previously well-kept secrets in some circles within the Solomon Islands. These records provide detailed information about gifts from the Chinese embassy intended for the local media.

- Advertisement -

Furthermore, one of the major newspapers in the Solomon Islands, The Solomon Star, finds itself in the spotlight. Senior journalist Alfred Sasako chastised several Solomon Star reporters in an email dated July 17 for their negative coverage of Prime Minister Sogavare’s official visit to Beijing. This incident raises concerns about media influence and its implications on diplomatic relations in the Pacific region.

“I write to place on record my profound disappointment about our front page article, titled China Trip Exposed,” Sasako said in the email reviewed by BenarNews. “My further disappointment is the fact that such publicity makes it very difficult for me to deal with the Chinese Embassy on matters pertaining to Chinese Government support for the Solomon Star,” he said in the email that also extolled the benefits of China’s assistance to the Solomon Islands, The Asian Age reported.

In the edition of the Solomon Star, an editorial emerged in defense of its Chinese government funding. The newspaper firmly denied any claims of the Chinese embassy reproaching them for negative coverage or attempting to censor any reports.

“Yes, Solomon Star has nothing to hide,” said the article. “We have received funding support from China.” It claimed that other media organizations and journalists in the Solomon Islands were also receiving or seeking Chinese government funding.

Based on the funding document, the Chinese embassy was contacted by the Solomon Star, owned by the Lamani family, in 2021 seeking financial assistance. The embassy agreed to contribute approximately USD 41,000 initially, and the funding was increased to around USD 133,000 in June 2022, based on a new project format offered by the embassy.

The Asian Age reported that the media outlet suffered financial setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to layoffs of half of its 100 employees. Outdated printing equipment occasionally caused delays in publishing editions.

The newspaper expressed concern about delays in receiving funds for new printing equipment, impacting their ability to inform, educate, and entertain the people of Solomon Islands about China and its development.

With a daily print run of 6,000 copies and an estimated readership twice that number, the Solomon Islands’ diplomatic shift to China reflects the increasing influence of China in the Pacific region.

During Prime Minister Sogavare’s visit to China, he was honored by the country’s leaders. The Solomon Islands, situated 2,100 kilometers northeast of Brisbane, Australia, faces challenges related to infrastructure, connectivity, and healthcare. To mitigate these issues, the nation seeks to gain additional development aid by leveraging competition between China and the US.

- Advertisement -

ΑΠΑΝΤΗΣΤΕ

εισάγετε το σχόλιό σας!
παρακαλώ εισάγετε το όνομά σας εδώ

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Ροή ειδήσεων

ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ

Pakistan is third worst nation globally in terms of law and order: World Justice Project index

In the latest World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index for 2024, Pakistan has been ranked 140th out of 142 countries, making it...

EU raises concern over Chinese aggression in Taiwan

The European Commission in a report raised concern over China's aggression against Taiwan and suggested that the EU step up exchanges with Taipei, Taipei...

Taiwan detects 6 Chinese military aircraft, 9 vessels around territory

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Chinese military activity near the island on Tuesday and said that by 6 am (local time), six...

China Tries to Blot out Tibetan Criticism of Mining Firm’s Damage to the Environment 

Chinese censors are trying to prevent people from viewing posts that allege severe environmental damage in Tibet caused by sand mining. A young Tibetan man...

ΔΗΜΟΦΙΛΗ ΑΡΘΡΑ

Προειδοποίηση Ρεπουμπλικάνου βουλευτή στις ομοσπονδιακές υπηρεσίες για την μεταβατική περίοδο-Επιστράτευση της Εθνοφρουράς

Ο Ρεπουμπλικάνος γερουσιαστής Μπιλ Χάγκερτι, προειδοποίησε τις υπηρεσίες και τα τμήματα της ομοσπονδιακής κυβέρνησης σχετικά με μια πιθανή μετάβαση σε μια μελλοντική κυβέρνηση Trump...

Η αστυνομία συνέλαβε έναν άνδρα που προσπαθούσε να εισέλθει στο Καπιτώλιο των ΗΠΑ με πυρσό και πιστόλι φωτοβολίδων!

Σύμφωνα με την αστυνομία του Καπιτωλίου των ΗΠΑ, ο άνδρας σταμάτησε την Τρίτη κατά τη διάρκεια ελέγχου ασφαλείας στο Κέντρο Επισκεπτών του Καπιτωλίου. Οι...

Αποκλειστικό-Προβλέψεις αγορών για αμερικανικές εκλογές: Τραμπ, 61% πιθανότητες, Χάρις 39%

Πιθανότητες νίκης στις προεδρικές εκλογές των ΗΠΑ Τραμπ: Τραμπ: 61% πιθανότητες, Χάρις: 39% (Βάσει δημοσκοπήσεων και προβλέψεων αγορών) https://twitter.com/spectatorindex/status/1853876689753059404 Σύμφωνα με την Polymarket, μια...

Αποκλειστικό: Πάνω από 10.000 βορειοκορεάτες στρατιωτικοί έχουν φτάσει στη Ρωσία

Πάνω από 10.000 βορειοκορεάτες στρατιωτικοί έχουν φτάσει στη Ρωσία, με έναν «σημαντικό αριθμό» στρατιωτών να έχουν ήδη σταθμεύσει κοντά σε περιοχές της πρώτης γραμμής,...