The Solomon Islands has joined the U.S. Pacific Partnership in a major blow to China’s ambitions, despite initially refusing to sign the declaration.

A statement issued by the White House on Thursday confirmed the pact between 15 states, including the U.S., the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and others.
The partnership was agreed at a high-profile White House summit this week after weeks of negotiations between Biden administration officials and representatives of the Pacific island nations. These spanned issues including climate change, trade and security.

Joe Biden Pacific Leaders
From left to right, Micronesia President David Panuelo, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, U.S. President Joe Biden, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape find their places along with other leaders from the Pacific region before posing for a photograph at the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 29, 2022. The Solomon Islands has joined the U.S. Pacific Partnership in a major blow to China’s ambitions, despite initially refusing to sign the declaration.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Washington and Beijing are vying for influence in the Pacific region amid increasing tensions over Taiwan’s sovereignty.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Solomon Islands had informed its regional neighbors that it would not sign the declaration between the U.S. and the Pacific island nations.

The disagreement came five months after the Solomon Islands signed a security agreement with China that concerned the U.S. and Australia, with fears that Beijing would try to establish a military presence on the island state, which is about 1,200 miles from Australia.

This is a developing story.