Image Credits-RNZ
The United States has issued a warning to Pacific Islands nations regarding their engagement with Chinese security forces. This cautionary message follows the presence of Chinese police personnel in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati, situated near Hawaii.
Kiribati’s acting police commissioner, Eeri Aritiera, disclosed that uniformed Chinese officers are collaborating with local police in community policing initiatives and a crime database program. This development has raised concerns in Washington, particularly amid the escalating rivalry between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific region.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, expressed apprehension over the deployment of security forces from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Pacific Island countries. The spokesperson emphasised that such actions could potentially exacerbate regional and international tensions, rather than contribute to stability.
Furthermore, Washington voiced its disapproval of China’s efforts to extend its influence through what it termed as “transnational repression efforts,” including the establishment of police stations abroad. The United States underscored its commitment to safeguarding the autonomy of Pacific Island nations and expressed concerns about the implications of security agreements with China.
Kiribati holds strategic importance not only due to its proximity to Hawaii but also because of its vast exclusive economic zone spanning over 3.5 million square kilometres in the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, Kiribati hosts critical infrastructure such as a Japanese satellite tracking station, with China expressing intentions to reconstruct a World War II U.S. military airstrip on Kanton Island, which has raised eyebrows in Washington.
In response to China’s initiatives, the United States announced plans to upgrade the wharf on Kanton Island, coupled with aspirations to establish an embassy in Kiribati. The geopolitical manoeuvring underscores the intensifying competition between major powers for influence and strategic advantage in the Pacific region.
While Kiribati has acknowledged soliciting policing assistance from China in 2022, both Kiribati’s acting police commissioner and a Chinese embassy source denied the existence of a formal Chinese police station in the country. Nonetheless, uniformed Chinese police officers have been operating in Kiribati on a rotational basis, raising questions about the extent of China’s security involvement in the region.
In conclusion, the presence of Chinese police in Kiribati has sparked concerns in Washington, amplifying the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific Islands.
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