Sitiveni Rabuka becomes new prime minister after a coalition of parties vote to support him, signalling an end to Frank Bainimarama's 16 years of power in the Pacific archipelago.
Fiji's long-time prime minister said the military had been deployed to maintain "law and order", as the former coup leader refused to concede defeat after a close election.
Incumbent Frank Bainimarama's Fiji First party and a coalition led by Sitiveni Rabuka were both projected to secure 26 seats in the 55-seat parliament, according to a Fijian Election Office tally.
With eyes on China's influence in the region, Canberra says it will allocate $29 million for deployments in the Solomon Islands.
US has reportedly invited 12 regional countries, including the Solomon Islands, which in April struck a security pact with China, heightening Washington's concern about Beijing's growing clout.
Biden administration has vowed to commit more resources to the Indo-Pacific as China seeks to boost economic, military and police links with Pacific island nations hungry for foreign investment.
"The single greatest threat to our very existence is climate change, it threatens our very hopes and dreams of prosperity", said Fiji's defence minister during the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue.
FM Wang Yi will speak with top officials of 10 island states and is expected to discuss proposals to radically increase its involvement in the security, economy and politics of the South Pacific.
More than 7,600 people, many of them rescued from flooded villages, were taking shelter in evacuation centres.
A state of natural disaster has been declared for 30 days as emergency services rush to provide food and clothing to the worst affected areas.
Fiji has issued a nationwide lockdown and declared a state of natural disaster as Cyclone Yasa barrels towards the island nation.
Cyclone Harold, its strength ranked in the highest category of five, passed over Fiji's south at about midday, levelling homes and snapping communications links in the archipelago, which has adopted curbs on movement to rein in the virus.
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