Manasseh Sogavare was China’s man in the Pacific. Will his exit as prime minister reverberate across the region?

Driving down Solomon Islands’ main road in the capital city Honiara is a test in patience and skill. The road is so littered with potholes, it’s like playing a game of chess on wheels. It has become folk law in the capital, so much so there’s a mantra the police follow to spot people breaking the law: “We can tell a drunk-driver from a mile away ... they just drive straight.” The main road in Honiara is in a constant state of disrepair. ( ABC News: Gabriella Marchant ) Last year, the dichotomy of this situation became almost laughable. As…