AUSTRALIA VIES WITH CHINA TO TURN THE SOLOMONS INTO A POLICE STATE

In October 2024, Suidani and Talifilu were arrested by Solomon Islands police under unusual circumstances On December 19th, Australia announced it was giving Solomons AUS$190 million 'to grow the size and capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), in response to a request by Solomon Islands'.

- CLEO PASKAL

In August, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was caught on camera talking to Kurt Campbell about Canberra's newly announced Pacific Policing Initiative. Canberra had long wanted to reshape Pacific Islands architecture so that, in the words of Australia's 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, it would "integrate Pacific countries into the Australian and New Zealand economies and our security institutions".

SECURITY 'INTEGRATION'

What does that look like? In December, Australia signed a treaty with Nauru in which it included these two clauses: "Nauru shall mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement or engagement with any other State or entity on matters relating to Nauru's security including maritime security, defence, policing, border protection and cyber security sectors, and Nauru's critical infrastructure concerning banking and telecommunications.

"Nauru shall consult with Australia on any partnership, arrangement or engagement with any other State or entity relating to Nauru's other critical infrastructure such as ports, aviation, and energy infrastructure." Just as a reminder, Nauru is (or was) an independent country.

Some have equated this agreement to the Compacts of Free Association the United States has with three independent Pacific Islands countries. Not even close.

One major difference is the citizens of those countries voted on whether or not to accept the Compacts.

In the Australia-Nauru case, it was a government-to-government deal, negotiated in secret. The public was not consulted. China is grateful for the precedent.

(It's worth noting when Australia did the same thing with Tuvalu, the Tuvaluan Prime Minister who signed the deal was turfed out at the next election.)

POLICING