索羅門群島外交政策中的「避險」意涵探析

An Analysis of the“Hedging”Implications in the Foreign Policy of the Solomon Islands

作為太平洋島國地區成員之一的索羅門群島，近年和美國、中國、澳洲等國家皆往來密切，成為各方積極拉攏的合作對象，其外交動向備受國際社會矚目。本文運用國際關係研究中的「避險戰略」分析索羅門群島外交政策，該戰略建議現代國家面臨利害交錯的複雜情境時，宜跳脫傳統的「平衡／扈從」二分思維，改以雙向投注作法同時迴避安全損害及利益損失風險。研究結果顯示索羅門群島雖是發展程度低落且國內情勢不穩的小型島國，卻能在美中競逐的混沌局面中靈活遊走，同步交好各方以擴大外部援助、增進國家安全並提升國際地位，其外交施政體現顯著「避險」特質，對於理解許多同受強權角力影響的中小型國家動向而言具有參考價值。

As a member of the Pacific Islands region, the Solomon Islands has developed close ties with countries such as the United States, China, and Australia in recent years, making itself an actively courted partner of relevant countries, its diplomatic orientation therefore attracted the attention of the international community. This article used the“hedging strategy”in international relations studies to analyze the foreign policy of the Solomon Islands. The research of“hedging strategy”suggests modern countries should go beyond the traditional thoughts of“balancing/bandwagoning”dichotomy when facing a complex situation where common interests and security risks coexist and adopt various“hedging”tactics to protect national security and interests at the same time. The result of the study pointed out that although the Solomon Islands is a small island country with low development and troubled by civil unrest, it has flexibly maneuvered in the chaotic situation caused by U.S.-China competition. By establishing friendly relations with all the neighboring countries, the Solomon Islands maximized access to foreign assistance, improved national security protection, and promoted its international status, its foreign policy has reflected obvious“hedging”characteristics and can serve as a guide for other medium and small countries that are also affected by great power struggles.