Vanuatu anticipates reduction of Chinese police presence after signing security pact with Australia

Vanuatu has indicated that the Chinese police training team stationed in the country since 2023 will be scaled back gradually after the signing of the Nakamal Agreement with Australia. The pact, finalized in June after protracted negotiations, formally recognises Australia as Vanuatu's longstanding primary policing partner and commits roughly $500 million to the island nation over a decade for policing, climate resilience and infrastructure projects.

While China has supplied surveillance drones, motorcycles, patrol boats and other equipment to Vanuatu's police, Canberra views the agreement as a strategic counter to Beijing's growing security footprint in the Pacific. Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Pacific Minister Pat Conroy in Canberra to discuss implementation, and the joint statement emphasised the binding nature of the agreement versus the time-limited Chinese arrangement.

Prime Minister Jotham Napat later warned that any expansion of Australian Federal Police personnel would need explicit government approval. The development follows Fiji's recent repatriation of Chinese officers, underscoring shifting dynamics in regional policing partnerships.