Earth Science News
WATER WORLD
China to donate over $400,000 in police gear to Vanuatu: minister
China to donate over $400,000 in police gear to Vanuatu: minister
by AFP Staff Writers
Sydney (AFP) Sept 23, 2025

Vanuatu's interior minister has said China will donate hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of police equipment to the Pacific island nation, local media reported Tuesday, as Beijing deepens its influence in the region.

Internal Affairs Minister Andrew Solomon Napuat said Beijing will donate motorcycles, drones and other gear worth over $400,000 to his country's Police Force, the Vanuatu Daily Post reported.

Two countries are also eyeing a policing deal that will "better coordinate and manage different areas of partnership in the policing sector with all of our partners", Napuat was quoted as saying.

The announcement comes after Napuat paid a visit to Beijing last week, where he met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Xiaohong.

China's foreign ministry declined to comment on the specific deal on Tuesday, but said Beijing would continue to support Vanuatu.

"China will continue, in line with Vanuatu's wishes and needs, to provide support within its capacity, and to strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation across various fields," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters at a regular briefing.

Beijing's cooperation with Vanuatu is built on "mutual respect, equal consultation, mutual benefit, as well as openness and inclusiveness", Guo added.

Napuat said his country's priorities were on addressing climate change, transnational crime and general policing.

"Climate change is the biggest security threat in Vanuatu," he said.

"We highlighted the issue of sovereignty, stating that Vanuatu will continue to exercise its sovereignty on important matters, and we expect our partners to respect this," he added.

The country already has similar policing agreements with Australia, New Zealand, France and the United Kingdom.

But the deal will likely raise eyebrows in Canberra, which has sought to counter Beijing's influence in the Pacific and this month failed to sign a key agreement with Vanuatu aimed at deepening ties.

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat cited concerns that its wording would limit the country's ability to access funds for "critical infrastructure" from other nations -- widely seen as a nod to China.

Across the South Pacific, climate-vulnerable countries are trying to balance relations between the West and China -- seeking to score much-needed funding from both while retaining their hard-won independence.

Many nations in the region are in desperate need of investment as fragile economies falter and the costs related to climate change grow.

China has in recent years furnished Vanuatu with freshly paved roads, government office buildings, and even a new palace for the country's president.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
China warns Papua New Guinea over Australian defence deal
Sydney (AFP) Sept 19, 2025
China cautioned Papua New Guinea against "undermining" its interests and sovereignty in signing a mutual defence pact with Australia widely seen as a counter to Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific. Australia and Papua New Guinea this week agreed on the text of a deal which will see the countries commit to defending each other from armed attacks. Asked about the deal, a spokesperson for Beijing's embassy in Port Moresby said China respected Papua New Guinea's right to strike deals with oth ... read more

WATER WORLD
'License to kill': Experts warn on legality of US anti-drug strikes

Philippine protest arrests leave parents seeking answers

No pause for food delivery riders during Pakistan's monsoon

Global search and rescue system gets recognition as real lifesaver

WATER WORLD
NASA begins testing PExT wideband communications system in orbit

AV secures new contract option to deliver BADGER phased array systems for SCAR program

Voyager debuts first space based multi cloud region to advance orbital data processing

EU business lobby head says China rare earths snag persists

WATER WORLD
China warns Papua New Guinea over Australian defence deal

China to donate over $400,000 in police gear to Vanuatu: minister

What is the high seas treaty?

Climate change causing havoc with global water cycle: UN

WATER WORLD
Nordic ministers attend Greenland war games without US

Sweden's Sami fear for future amid rare earth mining plans

Algal blooms shaped global carbon cycle during Antarctic Cold Reversal

Glaciers in Tajikistan show signs of irreversible decline as snowfall drops

WATER WORLD
Warmer climate boosts north German vineyards; Bumper harvest falls flat for Italy's Asti vineyards

Fruit fly tests in Greece target invasive species threat

Global warming linked to consumption of sugary drinks, ice cream

Climate change is making rollercoaster harvests the new normal

WATER WORLD
Four dead in Thailand monsoon floods

S.Sudan flooding displaces 100,000 in matter of weeks: UN

Philippines 'ghost' flood projects leave residents stranded

Schools shut, flights cancelled as Typhoon Ragasa nears Hong Kong

WATER WORLD
Paramilitary drones hit key sites in Sudan's south: army official

Clashes in DR Congo despite peace efforts

Suspected jihadists kill soldiers in Niger: sources

Chinese firms pay price of jihadist strikes against Mali junta

WATER WORLD
Oldest practice of smoke-dried mummification traced to Asia Pacific hunter gatherers

AI helps UK woman rediscover lost voice after 25 years

New Ethiopian fossil find reveals unknown Australopithecus species alongside early Homo

Scrumped fruit shaped ape evolution and human fondness for alcohol

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.