There was a cost, of course. In 2019, Beijing made it clear that it had one non-negotiable demand: The Solomons had to cut all diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognize the mainland. Sogavare acquiesced, despite the riots that followed. (Taiwan had long offered free healthcare to islanders as well as substantial development and educational funding; there were suspicions of bribery surrounding the diplomatic shift.) It turned out that the quid pro quo for abandoning recognition of Taiwan was $730 million in Chinese aid.
