Solomon Islands province announces independence vote amid China tensions

Malaita's promised poll pits pro-Taiwan province against a pro-Beijing national government

The largest province in Solomon Islands has announced plans for an independence referendum as tensions with the country's national government over China policy rise.

Malaita, a province of 200,000 people in the country's east, will soon conduct a provincial-wide referendum on the topic of independence", a statement from premier Daniel Suidani said on Tuesday.