Tennis - Australian Open - Fourth Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 20, 2019. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison watches the match between Russia's Maria Sharapova and Australia's Ashleigh Barty. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit the Solomon Islands next week, he said on Monday, as Western nations seek to rein in China's influence on the tiny Pacific island. With the United States and its allies keen to ensure China does not increase its foothold in the Pacific, protecting diplomatic recognition for self-ruled Taiwan has emerged as a flashpoint in regional ties.
"China is the Solomon Islands' largest trading partner and this is adding a lot of pressure on lawmakers to switch allegiances," said Jonathan Pryke, Pacific Islands programme director at the think-tank, the Lowy Institute.
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