China's Policing Presence in the Pacific

International partnerships are critical for improving the effectiveness of policing and law enforcement, especially in the Pacific. More effective policing across the region leads to safer communities and an increased potential ability to combat transnational and serious organised crimes such fraud, environmental crime and the smuggling of illicit drugs and people.For decades, Australia and New Zealand have played an important role in assisting and working alongside Pacific islands police, with a view to building Pacific policing capabilities and security. In recent years China has also established and then increased its policing presence in several Pacific island countries.In this episode, Virginia Comolli and Martin Thorley from the non-government think tank, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), discuss why China is expanding its policing presence, the types of initiatives Chinese police are engaged in, and point to lessons for other international actors.Virginia and Martin’s report – Policing Partnerships in the Pacific: China’s Law Enforcement Cooperation with Pacific Island Countries – can be accessed through GI-TOC’s website at https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/policing-partnerships-in-the-pacific-china/The APJ’s website is www.apjl.com.auHost: Jason Byrnes APMGuests: Virginia Comolli and Martin Thorley