By Jane Joshua

Copyright dailypost

Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Solomon Napuat has revealed that China will donate police equipment, including International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) systems, worth RMB 1 million (approximately VT16.89 million), to Vanuatu, as well as procuring 20 motorcycles, 20 drones and other police equipment worth an additional 2 million yuan (around VT34 million), which will be shipped and donated to the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF).

Minister Napuat confirmed this after he met with China’s State Councillor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong on Friday, September 19, 2025, in Beijing.

The two Ministers were supposed to meet in Jiangsu Province along with other Ministers of the Pacific region who were attending the Fourth Ministerial Dialogue on Police Capacity Building and Cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries in Lianyungang, east of China’s Jiangsu Province.

Vanuatu has been participating in the Ministerial Dialogue in China over the past three years along with the other Pacific Island countries.

This year’s Ministerial Dialogue was attended by Ministers from Tonga, Solomon Islands and Fiji, while the Ambassadors of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru attended on behalf of their Ministers, and Commissioners of Police from Samoa, Kiribati and Vanuatu attended on behalf of their Ministers.

Minister Wang, in his remarks to the Ministers and high dignitaries of the Pacific, stated that China is willing to work with all parties to implement the Global Security Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and adhere to the principles of prioritising development, respecting the independence of island countries, and pursuing openness and inclusiveness.

He added that China is willing to strengthen communication and exchange at all levels, and work with the Pacific Island countries to achieve long-term regional security, improve the well-being of their people, and contribute to the development of a closer China-Pacific Island countries community with a shared future.

Minister Napuat expressed gratitude on behalf of the government of Vanuatu and the VPF for the assistance and donations provided by China to Vanuatu throughout the years.

He said the relations between the two countries have reached an unprecedented level, which signifies the importance the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Vanuatu attach to the cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

This is a friendship based on mutual trust and respect for each other’s sovereignty. China supported Vanuatu’s independence through the United Nations (UN) process, and the Vanuatu government will continue to recognise China’s positive contribution towards international peace, security, and global issues.

China’s assistance to the VPF

China has continually demonstrated itself as a key development partner to Vanuatu in the security space, especially in policing.

Over the past few years, China has provided the following to the VPF:

Chinese Police Expert Teams to train VPF in traffic management, forensics, martial arts, VIP escorts, and provide mobile traffic lights and other policing equipment.

Multi-level and multi-sectoral training programs, from law enforcement philosophy to practical techniques; public security management (crowd control) to new technology applications, including the use of drones by VPF officers.

China also supplied equipment such as breathalysers and trained VPF officers in their use, and will continue to support VPF in anti-drunk driving enforcement operations.

It provided four additional patrol boats and sent a delegation to Vanuatu to be trained on the boats.

China provided new uniforms to VPF.

It delivered motorcycles and vehicles, which have now been distributed to provinces.

In the future, China has agreed to provide motorcycle training to VMF and provide training and assistance on Malekula Island, with plans to extend to the outer islands.

China also invited two VMF officers to study at the Chinese Military Academy from September 2025.

Vanuatu will continue to benefit from Chinese dialogue and forums on security, law enforcement, and policing.

Forward-looking

Minister Napuat stated that, as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Vanuatu is a friend to all and an enemy to none, a position decided by the country’s founding fathers.

“Vanuatu’s interest is not in full militarisation of its forces but rather on security issues relating to climate change, transnational crime, cybercrime, traffic management, and general policing duties and functions,” he said.

“Vanuatu has already established Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) 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.

“Our two governments wish to formalise a Police MoU similar to existing MoUs with Australia, New Zealand, France, the UK, and PNG, to better coordinate and manage different areas of partnership in the policing sector with all of our partners.

“These MoUs are not the same as the Nakamal Security Agreement currently being negotiated between Vanuatu and Australia. Overseas media has exaggerated these discussions with misrepresentations, giving wrong impressions of our relationship with our partners on topics of security and policing, which have very specific meanings in Vanuatu’s context.

“This is why we must define our own security challenges and determine our security and policing needs. Climate change is the biggest security threat in Vanuatu.

“We highlighted the issue of sovereignty, stating that Vanuatu will continue to exercise its sovereignty on important matters, and we expect our partners to respect this.

“The Minister of Public Security of China responded that the four principles China maintains and respects when engaging in programs with other countries are:

China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific Island countries.

It fully respects their will to decide on their own development according to their interests.

China fully respects their cultural traditions, faith, and religion.

It fully respects their efforts to seek strength through unity.

“Finally, the media plays a huge role in analysing the actions of leaders and countries, which sometimes does not reflect the true intentions of our leaders.

“But in Vanuatu, we are taking our stand to ensure our partners are informed about our interests. We have clearly communicated our priorities to all our partners.

“As reiterated by Police Commissioner Kalshem Bongran, ‘Let this be a message to all development and security partners: we are not proxies in a geopolitical game. We are sovereign equals. Your support is welcomed, but your respect is required. Vanuatu’s national interest must come first.”