Island Nation Of Kiribati In The Pacific Houses Chinese Law Personnel
Hawaii’s Pacific neighbor, Kiribati, enables the Chinese police force to be active.
Image Source: Financial Times
The remote nation of Kiribati has allowed the Chinese police force to be active in the region. The Chinese police officers are involved in community policing and organizing a crime database program.
Kiribati has not officially declared the policing program. China agreed to the program as Beijing pushed to solidify relations with the Pacific Islands in a race against the United States.
Kiribati is home to approximately 115,000 residents. Although the island nation is small, it is of great strategic importance. Kiribati is relatively close to Hawaii and controls an exclusive economic zone. The island nation controls approximately 3.5 million square kilometers (1.35 million square miles) and hosts a Japanese satellite tracking station.
Eeri Aritiera, the acting police commissioner of Kiribati, states that Chinese police forces collaborate with local officers. However, there is no official Chinese police station on the island nation.
He further states that along with community policing, the Chinese police officers also assist with the Martial Arts (Tai Chi) Kung Fu program. They also assist the IT department with the crime database program.
The Chinese embassy in Kiribati has not officially commented on the position of the police force on the island nation.
Aritiera met with Chinese public security minister Wang Xiaohong in December last year. Wang met with several Pacific Island officers in Beijing as well. Kiribati states that they requested assistance from the Chinese police in 2022.
Approximately a dozen Chinese police officers arrived on the island on a six-month rotation. They assist the Kiribati Police Force on matters that require assistance or when a request is made. Meanwhile, the President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, has not officially commented on the subject.
In 2022, the Pacific Islands Forum quelled China’s efforts to strike a region-wide security and trade deal. It was a surprising move as China is the number one infrastructure lender in the region.
China deployed police personnel to the Solomon Islands in 2022 after signing a secret security pact with the nation. Washington and Canberra heavily criticized this agreement.
Graeme Smith, an Australian Pacific Island expert, claims that China aims to reach the Chinese diaspora spread across the region. Thus, the police force acts as eyes and ears abroad.
Papua New Guinea, the largest Pacific Island nation, will not sign a security deal with China. The island nation faced criticism as the United States and Australia were made aware of its policing deal with China.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Alefiyah Badani, hailing from Mumbai and a graduate of 2023, brings with her a background in journalism, enriched by several internships. Eager to hone her craft further, she seeks opportunities that will augment her skill set and refine her abilities in the field.
Latest entries
English5 March 2024South Korea Aims To Take Legal Action Against Protesting Doctors
English3 March 2024Cairo To Resume Gaza Ceasefire Talks On Sunday
English3 March 2024Veteran George Galloway Wins British Parliament Seat With Gaza Agenda
English29 February 2024Pro-Imran Khan Protests In Pakistan Fail To Rattle Newly Elected Parliament
