Australian police began taking control of the Solomon Islands capital Honiara on Friday after days of violent protests in the South Pacific island nation, witnesses said.

Taiwan's president urged the Solomon Islands not to switch diplomatic allegiance to China Monday, as the Pacific nation deliberates whether to recognise the far more economically powerful Beijing instead.

An 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Sunday, triggering a tsunami alert for several Pacific islands though that was subsequently wound back to cover just PNG and Solomon Islands.