China’s police chief urges ‘new chapter’ of Pacific Island security cooperation

The comments come after Australia – Beijing’s rival in a region it is eager to court – secures support for major Pacific policing initiative

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China is willing to create a “more professional” law enforcement team to achieve “lasting security” in the Pacific Islands, says Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong. Photo: Weibo

Published: 4:00pm, 12 Sep 2024Updated: 4:35pm, 12 Sep 2024

China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong on Wednesday called for a “new chapter” of law enforcement cooperation with Pacific Island nations amid broader efforts by Beijing to strengthen security ties in the region and assert its leadership on global security governance.

Speaking at a forum on China-Pacific Island police cooperation in the southeastern city of Fuzhou, Wang said China was willing to create a “more professional” law enforcement team to achieve “lasting security” in the region.

According to state news agency Xinhua, Wang called for China and Pacific Island countries to write a “new chapter of mutually beneficial law enforcement and security cooperation” to help build a “closer community with a shared future”.

“China is ready to work together with all parties to focus on establishing friendlier cooperative relationships, adopting more efficient modes of cooperation, and building a more professional law enforcement team,” he said in his speech.

Wang’s comments come after Australia, one of China’s rivals for influence in the region, scored diplomatic points by securing the endorsement of Pacific island leaders for a A$400 million (US$266.3 million) Pacific Policing Initiative at a summit in Tonga last month.

Under the initiative, four training centres will be set up across the Pacific, with a separate hub in Australia, and a multi-country policing force of about 200 officers will be created and deployed in the region during major events or crises.

In February, following reports of Chinese police working in Kiribati, Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy said there should be “no role” for China in policing the Pacific Islands, and that Australia would train more local security forces to fill gaps.