Australia promotes Pacific Policing Initiative in South Pacific in an attempt to exclude Chinese influence
2024-08-26
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[Global Times Special Correspondent in Australia Da Qiao, Global Times Reporter Zhao Shuang] The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting was held in Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, on the 26th. Australia's Sydney Morning Herald reported on the 25th that Australian Prime Minister Albanese will go to Tonga to attend the meeting on the 27th, and one of his important tasks during this trip is to facilitate the signing of the "Pacific Policing Initiative". The report said that Australian officials hope that this initiative can prevent "Beijing from gaining a security foothold in the region."
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) previously reported that the Australian government plans to provide at least A$400 million (A$100 million is approximately RMB 480 million) in funding for the "Pacific Policing Initiative" and has provided A$317 million to the Australian Federal Police in the 2023-2024 budget to help strengthen its presence in Pacific island countries. ABC said that the background of this initiative is that China is accelerating the process of reaching bilateral police cooperation agreements with Pacific island countries.
The report said that the initiative includes the establishment of a large training base for Pacific Island police in Brisbane and the formation of a law enforcement team of 200 Pacific police officers. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Pinkemba training base near Brisbane Airport is under construction and will have a shooting range and tactical response training facilities in the future, which can accommodate up to 50 Pacific Island police officers for training at a time. At the same time, the Australian police also plans to establish several new police "skill centers" in the Pacific Island countries to provide intensive training in professional fields.
According to Australian media, the Australian Federal Police has been quietly making preparations over the past two years, hoping that the initiative can be passed at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in August.
Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Research Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on the 25th that Australia's "Pacific Policing Initiative" is essentially aimed at weakening China's cooperation with Pacific island countries in policing. According to news previously disclosed by Australian media, the Australian police stressed that "any policing plan in the Pacific region needs to be led by the region itself", meaning that "countries outside the region" should not participate. Australia's use of this exclusive regional concept is actually targeting China. "If it were the United States, France or other countries, Australia would not make such a statement."
ABC said that China has carried out police cooperation with South Pacific island countries such as the Solomon Islands, "and has been working to adopt the same approach in other countries such as Papua New Guinea". The report said that China has also established a China-Pacific Island Countries Police Training Center in the country. Some Australian officials expressed "concern" about this.
Chen Hong said that China and the South Pacific island countries have many mutually beneficial cooperation. In order to protect the interests of both sides, China cooperates with some island countries at their request, helping to maintain local security while also maintaining a stable business environment. This is normal cooperation between sovereign states.
Take the Solomon Islands as an example. According to a Global Times reporter, riots broke out in the capital of the Solomon Islands in November 2021, and local Chinese-funded enterprises and shops were also hit. At the request of the Solomon Islands government, China provided a batch of police riot control materials to the Solomon Islands and sent a temporary police advisory group. In 2022, China and Solomon Islands signed a memorandum of understanding on police cooperation and a framework agreement on intergovernmental security cooperation. Local media said that shortly after receiving training from China, the Solomon Islands police demonstrated skills such as how to respond to riots and protect important people in drills. The Solomon Islands government has repeatedly stressed that the police cooperation agreement signed with China does not pose a "threat" to the Pacific region, while asking critics to respect the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands.
In response to some countries' doubts about China-Pacific island countries cooperation, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs once stated that China's cooperation with Pacific island countries is open and transparent, and fully respects the sovereignty and wishes of all countries. The Pacific island countries are not the "backyard" of any country, and China has no interest in competing with any country for influence. Australian media said that according to a statement reached at the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the 9th of this month, Tongan Prime Minister Huakavameliku will seek formal recognition of the "Pacific Policing Initiative" from leaders of other member countries at the Leaders' Meeting. As for whether Australia's policing initiative can be "passed", the Sydney Morning Herald believes that the initiative is sensitive and requires many Pacific island countries to amend their laws to allow police from Australia and other countries to operate within their territories, so it will face some obstacles.
