Former China hawk Matthew Wale elected Solomon Islands' leader

Lawmakers in the Solomon Islands' have picked a long-time opposition figure as prime minister, a week after ousting their former pro-China leader in a non-confidence vote. Matthew Wale promised "change" after winning a parliamentary vote on Friday, noting that the South Pacific island has not been "immune from the impasse of geopolitical events". "These changes are necessary and may be painful. I ask that you join with your government by putting your hand to the plough," the 57-year-old said. A fiery politician who's led the opposition for nearly a decade, Wale had strongly opposed a security pact his country signed with China, but his stance has softened over the years. The deal signed in 2022 – a few years after the Solomon Islands dropped its decades-long diplomatic relationship with Taiwan in favour of Beijing – allows China to deploy police and military personnel in the island nation. Over the years, the Solomon Islands has strengthened its ties with China, even as Australia continues to be the island's largest aid donor. The security agreement set off alarm bells for Australia and other Pacific neighbours, who feared it could lead to a permanent Chinese base in the region. Wa