Solomon Islands MPs say China and Taiwan have offered them hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for diplomatic support.

Solomon Manasseh Sogavare Islands Prime Minister in September decided to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan and establish relations with China, ending the 36-year friendship with Taipei. The decision angered US senators, Taiwan and Australia worried about China's expanding influence in the Pacific.

Following the Solomon Islands, the Republic of Kiribati also severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan less than two weeks later.

As part of the investigation of the true story behind the Solomon Islands's diplomatic diversion, the British Guardian revealed that Solomon MPs said Chinese and Taiwanese representatives approached them and offered them hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for support.

According to opposition deputy leader Peter Kenilorea Jr, "there is a well-known secret that money is always related to these things", referring to MPs giving up their long-standing pro-Taiwanist position to switch to support. Chinese household. Kenilorea, who opposed the diplomatic diversion, said he had heard MPs related to the decision saying they had been offered $ 246,000 to $ 615,000 to support Beijing.

Daniel Sudaini, the head of Malaita, the Solomon Islands' largest province, also accused him of being offered a bribe to abandon a tough stance against China. "Before the decision to change diplomacy, a group of people or someone called me to ask for my support. I decided not to accept it because if I did, I would no longer represent the people." Mr. Sudaini said.

Sudaini once told Solomon Star that the proposed bribe was $ 123,000. His allegations are now the subject of an official Solomon Islands police investigation.

In a statement, China's Foreign Ministry said establishing diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands was a "public and transparent" process. "No rumors or slander can affect the development of friendly relations between China and the Solomon Islands," the statement stated.

Congressman Titus Fika, who led the vote that led the government to shift diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China, denied the money affected the decision. Instead, Fika accused Taiwan himself of offering to bribe him to preserve the bilateral relationship.

"Taiwan wants to bribe me. They want us to receive a million dollars to vote to maintain our relationship with Taiwan and after everything is done, we will receive another million dollars to account. However, they I don't agree. We want to do the right thing for the benefit of the country, the people and the voters, "Fika said.

Taiwan denied the allegation. "In any case, Taiwan will not resort to the wicked dollar war against China, the vast majority will flow into the pockets of corrupt politicians," Taiwan's foreign ministry spokesman Joanne Ou said. .

According to a 2017 report by Transparency International, the Solomon Islands is a "very corrupt" region and the situation seems to be getting worse.

The Solomon Islands are the sixth nation to end relations with Taiwan since Thai Anh Van took power in 2016. Taiwan currently maintains relations with 15 countries around the world, however China declares Taiwan is a part of its territory and the island has no right to formally establish relations with any country.