According to an report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on October 22, Vanuatu's Minister of Interior Andrew Naputa stated that he has no plans to reduce the number of Chinese police officers stationed in Vanuatu.
Previously, the government of Vanuatu and Australia issued a joint statement, stating that the police cooperation project between Vanuatu and Beijing is expected to be gradually reduced.
This joint statement was issued after a high-level meeting between the two countries to implement the ‘Nakamura Agreement’, and was approved by both governments. The statement emphasizes that China’s police assistance program in Vanuatu is subject to a deadline, and it is expected to gradually decrease over time.
The statement also compares China’s police cooperation programs with Australia’s police assistance arrangements under the Nakhaimar Agreement. It emphasizes that the latter is “legally binding” and has “no expiration date”.
Andrew Naphat said that Vanuatu currently does not have the conditions to 'phase out' cooperation with any law enforcement partners.
However, Napaut seemed to criticize this clause in the statement. He visited Beijing last month to renew the police cooperation agreement between Vanuatu and China. He said, “There is no need to mention third parties in any agreement.”
He stated in a statement: "Our Prime Minister, Joe Sam Napat, has announced that Vanuatu will not take sides in its foreign relations after signing the Nakamar Agreement. This reaffirms Vanuatu's long-standing position of being friendly with all countries and not hostile to any nation."
Therefore, such statements targeting a particular partner do not reflect our stance regarding relationships with all partners.
Earlier this year, Jossam Nappat and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the Nakamal Agreement.
Napaut also criticized ABC's reporting on this joint statement, arguing that the report implied that Vanuatu was “targeting” China. He emphasized that Vanuatu still needs police assistance from Beijing and other international partners.
He said: “Currently, we are still constructing our own police force.”
"Precisely because of this, we are grateful for the help provided by all our partners. At present, we do not have the conditions to gradually terminate our cooperation with any partner, as reported."
Napua said that in the long term, Vanuatu hopes to 'gradually withdraw all foreign advisors and achieve independent management of its own police force'. This means that not only Chinese police personnel, but also those stationed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) may be required to leave at that time.
But he said that Vanuatu has not yet decided to take this step.
He said, “We will take action when the country makes a decision. We will not gradually terminate cooperation with any partner based on the terms of any agreement.”
Reports say that Nappat’s statement is likely not to be welcomed by the Australian government. The Australian side believes that this minister of interior affairs is one of the most pro-China officials in Nappat’s cabinet.
Last year, when Pat Cunroe, the Australian minister responsible for matters related to Pacific island nations, publicly criticized Vanuatu for renewing its police cooperation agreement with Beijing, Napaut also criticized him.
A source from the Australian Federal Government said that the information disclosed by Naputa regarding police cooperation is ‘quite different’ from the information conveyed by Vanuatu's Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koa Napo last week in Canberra.
Napuat's statement regarding Vanuatu gradually withdrawing "all foreign advisors" also contradicts Australia's previous public statements on police cooperation. In particular, the Australian Federal Government has never stated that the assistance provided by Australian Federal Police to Vanuatu is subject to a time limit.
