Vanuatu’s Police Minister, Andrew Napuat, recently met with China’s Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, in Beijing to discuss cooperative efforts in policing. Vanuatu is keen to bolster its maritime security capabilities and work with international partners to achieve this, particularly China. This meeting comes at a time when Australia has been focusing the domestic debate on changing regional security dynamics.
Throughout their conversations, Napuat and Wang recognized the need for collaboration on a number of policing issues. It’s important to note here that Vanuatu has not yet formalized this partnership with China. As of now, they still have not signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). To that end, Chinese police trainers joined our officers on Malekula Island. They trained all thirteen local police officers in the basics of community, principles and policing.
China has begun training programs and is increasingly expanding support for Vanuatu. She predicted they would donate more than $700,000 worth of major security equipment such as 20 police motorcycles and 20 drones. Such support fits well within Vanuatu’s strategic objectives of addressing Australia’s core security priorities whilst upholding its sovereign right to decide independently.
Australian Concerns Over Regional Security
Australia has rightly been worried about China’s growing engagement with Vanuatu’s security matters. The Australian government has consistently stated that it believes China should play no role in regional security matters. Australia currently offers the most substantial policing and security assistance to the Pacific region. They argue forcefully that these missions ought to remain within the Pacific family.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Jotham Napat, has acknowledged these concerns while asserting that Vanuatu’s national interests must take precedence in all security arrangements. He highlighted that negotiations on the Nakamal Agreement with Australia have stalled. Uncertainty about clauses that limit outside investment are behind these delays.
“Vanuatu will continue to exercise its sovereignty on important matters, and we expect our partners to respect this,” – Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat
This proclamation underscores Vanuatu’s commitment to protecting its independence in a challenging geopolitical landscape. Napat added that current policing MOUs with Australia, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom and Papua New Guinea underscored Vanuatu’s bilateral relationship with these countries. By comparison, its ties with China haven’t been cemented.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations with China
Vanuatu has been making moves to deepen its relationship with China. Saving lives through joint operations The proposed policing agreement will enhance law enforcement’s ability to address the emerging challenges of transnational crime. This collaborative effort provides intelligence-led policing for vital areas, including climate change, cybercrime, traffic management, and day-to-day policing responsibilities. It focuses on these urgent issues instead of militarization.
Minister Napuat was right to focus on the need for a formal MOU with China. This Memorandum of Agreement will improve coordination and management, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and accountability through every facet of policing partnership. He added that Vanuatu has already entered into treaties with a half-dozen countries. He stressed the necessity of building a shared expectation with China.
“Vanuatu has already established Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] and Cooperation Agreements on policing with Australia, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom [UK], and PNG, while China is the only country with which we still need to formalise a MoU,” – Vanuatu’s Police Minister Andrew Napuat
This new initiative is emblematic of Vanuatu’s broader goal to diversify their security partnerships and address increasingly urgent security threats in a proactive manner. The federal government is careful to remind that these negotiations are in no way a sign that Canada is siding with one geopolitical bloc against another.
