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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Business
John Power, Erin Hale

China’s ‘replica’ guns for Solomon Islands likely real, US cable claimed

United States Solomon Islands China Solomon Island Manasseh Sogavare RSIPF Police
China and Solomon Islands have deepened their ties since the Pacific Island country switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2019 [File: Florence Lo/Reuters]

China likely shipped genuine firearms to the Solomon Islands when its donation of “replica” weapons to police last year sparked a political firestorm in the tiny Pacific Island country, a previously unseen diplomatic cable claimed.

Police in the Solomon Islands said they received imitation firearms from China for training purposes after claims in local media of a secret illicit weapons shipment in March 2022 prompted an outcry from residents and opposition politicians.

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