Solomon Islands prime minister survives no-confidence vote after riots - Reuters

Domestic issues and disagreement over a 2019 switch of diplomatic ties to China from Taiwan have fuelled a dispute between the national government and Malaita, and church leaders have urged talks.

Sogavare said his cabinet made the decision to switch ties because China was an economic powerhouse, adding that it was unlawful for provinces to engage in diplomatic relations with other countries.

China's embassy in the Solomons said any attempt to damage bilateral ties between China and the Solomon Islands was doomed to fail.

Earlier, opposition leader Matthew Wale had told parliament Sogavare was "in the service of a foreign power," accusing him of using money from China in a national fund to prop up his political strength before the vote.

Malaita has a history of disputes with Guadalcanal province, where the national government is based, and opposed the 2019 switch of ties.