Chinese Police Presence in Kiribati Amid Expanding Pacific Security Ties

As Beijing seeks to counter US influence, Chinese police assist in community policing and IT in Kiribati, a strategic Pacific nation near Hawaii.

Chinese police are working in Kiribati, assisting with community policing, martial arts training, and IT support for a crime database program.
The collaboration has not been publicly announced by Kiribati, reflecting Beijing's broader strategy to expand security ties in the Pacific.
Kiribati, with a population of 115,000, is strategically located near Hawaii and controls a vast exclusive economic zone.
The United States and Australia express concerns over China's security ambitions in the Pacific, prompting measures to protect their positions.
Kiribati switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019, inviting Chinese investment and raising geopolitical stakes.