Manasseh

The move was largely seen as a sign the country will maintain close ties with China that were developed under pro-Beijing former leader Manasseh Sogavare.

The withdrawal of pro-Beijing former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare from the contest to make way for Manele as their party’s candidate is an indication the country could follow a similar direction.

The United States has been working to build diplomatic bridges with South Pacific island nations since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed the security pact with China.

As a result, the vote could be seen as "a referendum" on incumbent leader Manasseh Sogavare's "willingness to play powers like China and Australia off each other to gain concessions for his country", says researcher Edward Cavanaugh, who travelled across the Solomons for his book documenting the nation's turn to China.

Current Prime Minister Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who switched the Solomons’ allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing and ignited fears of China gaining a naval foothold in the South Pacific, is seeking an unprecedented second consecutive term at the government’s helm.