Pacific policing becomes new front in China-West rivalry

Australia, US seeking to counter China's growing presence in region with aid

- Ong Hui Fang

Australia 's donation of police vehicles to the Solomon Islands, which arrived on the same day as those gifted by China. Analyst Mihai Sora described the phenomenon as a race to be the 'security partner of choice' between China and the traditional powers.

(PHOTO: SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT)

In Vanuatu, the police force marked a milestone in July - officers finally have the authority to pull over a driver, conduct a roadside breathalyser test and detain anyone whose blood alcohol level exceeds 0.03 per cent.

This new enforcement power came not only from a law change, but also from Beijing. China supplied breathalyser kits and later dispatched a police expert team to train Vanuatu's traffic officers on their use, a move proudly publicised by the Chinese embassy in the Pacific island nation.

Weeks later, Vanuatu's government received seven Chinese-donated patrol boats, handed over at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Jotham Napat and Chinese Ambassador Li Minggang. Mr Napat hailed the boats as a symbol of "trust and cooperation" - the latest in a string of Chinese equipment donations to the country, typically paired with training.

China has been supporting other nations, too, and across the Pacific, Beijing has become an increasingly visible policing partner.

But while the equipment and training have been welcomed by the host nations, it has also stirred unease, with China's growing Pacific presence regarded with suspicion by Australia, the US and others. China has been trying to expand its military presence in the region, triggering moves by Canberra and Washington to counter this by increasing aid.

Analysts say China's expanding police presence not only helps fill urgent capability gaps for under-resourced Pacific nations, but it is also a strategic manoeuvre strengthening a security presence that is more acceptable than a military one.