![Mick Tsikas Dwellings are perched at the informal settlement of Koa Hill in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Sunday, April 14, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/0fb77c1d7f064a62b8fd12ea5d52f969/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Dwellings are perched at the informal settlement of Koa Hill in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Sunday, April 14, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)
![Mick Tsikas Residents who live on the Ranadi Landfill site scavenge through the rubbish in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Sunday, April 14, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/1db43eb8133a4fa0b2f8ead2802a1034/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Residents who live on the Ranadi Landfill site scavenge through the rubbish in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Sunday, April 14, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)
![Charley Priringi Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b37fb708722f4330b0c0a747a3567559/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)
![Mick Tsikas Voters board the already overcrowded Fair Glory ferry in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Saturday, April 13, 2024, heading to Malaita Island to vote in a national election. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/e56c83fe43d742c2874eeda648fe4967/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Voters board the already overcrowded Fair Glory ferry in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Saturday, April 13, 2024, heading to Malaita Island to vote in a national election. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)
![Charley Priringi Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/c5f3002581ec4a359348c7249cda7bc9/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)
![Charley Priringi Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/4417e9abf9f84d0db98d6b5c1094ef07/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)
![Andy Wong FILE - Visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang after they witnessed signing on agreement for both countries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, July 10, 2023. Current Prime Minister Sogavare, who switched the Solomons' allegiances from Taiwan to Beijing and ignited fears of China gaining a naval foothold in the South Pacific in his current five years in power, is seeking an unprecedented second consecutive term at the government's helm when the Solomon Islands goes to the polls on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/1b57aa00e142420bbfb4cd42904b576e/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang after they witnessed signing on agreement for both countries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, July 10, 2023. Current Prime Minister Sogavare, who switched the Solomons' allegiances from Taiwan to Beijing and ignited fears of China gaining a naval foothold in the South Pacific in his current five years in power, is seeking an unprecedented second consecutive term at the government's helm when the Solomon Islands goes to the polls on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool, File)
![Charley Priringi Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/8397b4b41c8540afa22723f0b514f401/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)
![Charley Priringi Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/99fb1d9290eb4fb68aafeac6827b047f/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)
![Charley Priringi Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/47b4584255e6418ea849a79e9d550933/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Locals react as they participate in a candidates parade in the capital Honiara, Solomon Islands, Monday, April 15, 2024. The country in which China has gained most influence in the South Pacific, Solomon Islands, goes to the polls on Wednesday in an election that could shape the region's future. (AP Photo/Charley Priringi)