A group of 32 police officers from the Solomon Islands has flown to China to train in policing techniques and improve their understanding of Chinese culture, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force said in a statement.
China has provided public order management training to police in the Solomon Islands since the two countries in April signed a security pact, an agreement that alarmed the US and its allies, including Australia, which traditionally provided policing support.
The 32 officers would visit police stations in China during their month-long visit, the force said in the statement.
Photo: AFP
At a White House summit with Pacific island leaders last month, the US, seeking to counter China’s rising influence in the strategically important region, said it would send FBI law enforcement trainers to the Solomon Islands this year.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare previously told Australia that it remained the nation’s security partner of choice and denied the pact with China would allow Beijing to set up a military base.
Australian police quelled anti-government riots in Honiara, the Solomon Islands’ capital, in November last year.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Beijing says the security pact would allow Chinese police to protect Chinese projects and personnel in the Solomon Islands.
Chinese construction and telecommunications companies have struck multimillion dollars deals for infrastructure projects in the Pacific nation.
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