Americans Must Counter China's Coercion

When former Solomon Islands politician and democracy champion Daniel Suidani died recently, few Americans noticed. Yet his passing carries deeper significance than they realize.

Originally a schoolteacher, Suidani served as the Premier of Malatia Province from 2019 to 2023. Suidani had a reputation unmarred by past corruption, and his premiership offered a refreshing return to principles. He dedicated himself to improving the standard of living for thousands of Malaitans.

Most importantly, Suidani had the tenacity to stand against an already corrupt system largely funded by Chinese money. During his tenure, he firmly rejected the installation of telecommunications equipment from Huawei, a Chinese technology company known for espionage and malicious cyber activities.  

Suidani was right: Chinese influence had overtaken the government. In 2023, he was ousted as provincial governor because he disagreed with the national government’s position on China-Taiwan relations. Through this act, Suidani became the first and only democratically elected politician in the world to be removed by his own government for opposing the “One China Principle” (a position that asserts Taiwan is part of China).

Just months later, the Solomon Islands High Court found Suidani’s removal unlawful. But unfortunately, Suidani’s persecution was only beginning. In October 2024, he was charged and arrested for organizing peaceful protests in 2021. Not only were the highly suspect charges filed nearly three years late, but they weren’t provided to Suidani until after his arrest.

Before the charges were announced, Suidani was able to visit Washington, D.C. During his visit, he visited The Heritage Foundation, which hosted a public event in which he shared his story and the threats he personally witnessed from China.

On stage, Suidani warned about CCP control over the domestic environment: “We hardly speak out because if you speak out against [China or] the One China Policy, you will be arrested.”

Most Americans have never heard of Suidani—but they should know his legacy and fight against the CCP. Suidani stood for core values of freedom and democracy—the same values Americans hold dearly. In doing so, he lost nearly everything, including his safety and freedom.

Americans should also understand the full scope of China’s coercion and intimidation tactics. China is already targeting dissidents and Chinese-Americans within the United States. It has shown that it is not afraid to escalate its intimidation efforts through lawfare, corruption, and threats.

In response, Americans must remain ironclad in their commitment to America’s core values and not allow Chinese influence to infiltrate their local communities. Whether in classrooms or board rooms, China is working diligently to hurt the American people. While the Solomon Islands are a long way from the continental United States, China’s efforts know no limits.

Policymakers should prioritize eliminating Chinese influence within the nation and their states. From banning China’s farmland acquisitions to bolstering the security of our physical and digital infrastructure, lawmakers should not allow China to develop footholds across America that allow it to prevent the American people from exercising their rights and freedoms.

Daniel Suidani should be remembered as freedom fighter and democracy defender who was unafraid of standing up to the CCP. He’ll also be remembered as a public servant with a deep commitment to his constituents. Americans should honor Suidani’s legacy by safeguarding the homeland against China’s coercive tactics.

Andrew Harding is the Senior Research Associate for National Security Coalitions at The Heritage Foundation. Allen Zhang is a Research Assistant in the Foundation’s Asian Studies Center.