China has hastily fortified its sprawling embassy in the Solomon Islands, fearing violent demonstrations if the island nation’s pro-Beijing but unpopular leader returns to power in Wednesday’s tense election.
A high steel wall has been constructed around the newly built embassy, one of the largest buildings in the poverty-stricken capital, Honiara.
Security sources told The Times that Beijing fears its Solomons outpost may come under attack after the vote, which many in the Islands see as a referendum on the incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s strong alignment with Beijing, which views the tiny nation as a strategic outpost in the Pacific.
Security guards posted outside the embassy turned The Times away when it sought to question officials about the reasons for the new fortifications.
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