On Thursday, 200 Chinese nationals who had been rescued from online scam operations in Myanmar were repatriated to China, with more expected to return in the coming days, according to China’s Ministry of Public Security.
This repatriation follows multiple visits by Liu Zhongyi, China’s assistant minister for public security, to Myanmar and Thailand. Liu has been working closely with officials in these countries to combat cyber fraud networks, which have been linked to financial crimes and human rights abuses.
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in the southwestern Pacific, a team of Chinese liaison officers recently concluded a police training program in the Solomon Islands. This type of police cooperation could bolster China’s image as a security partner in developing nations.
On February 11, the Chinese embassy in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, shared on social media that 30 local officers had participated in the recent training. The program covered areas such as DNA evidence analysis, telecom fraud investigations, and crime prevention related to sexual assault and drug offenses. The goal was to enhance officers’ tactical skills, reinforce safety awareness, and improve operational effectiveness.
Li Zhiyong, a professor of international relations at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, noted that as China’s global economic footprint expands, so does its need to protect its citizens and business interests abroad.
Policing diplomacy, traditionally a specialized aspect of foreign policy, enables law enforcement personnel to take on diplomatic functions such as intelligence sharing, conflict resolution, and security cooperation, Li explained.
China has largely engaged in international policing cooperation through mechanisms like Interpol and regional security initiatives such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations.
Chinese police officers have also been stationed at embassies in at least 48 countries, where they collaborate with local authorities to address crimes involving or targeting Chinese nationals. According to China’s Ministry of Public Security, this effort aims to enhance the protection of Chinese citizens and businesses abroad.
Against the backdrop of escalating tensions with the United States, China is positioning itself as a security partner, with policing diplomacy playing an increasingly prominent role.
In 2022, President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Security Initiative, which promotes the concept of “indivisible security,” differing from the US-led “collective security” approach. This initiative calls for increased international cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, biosecurity, emerging technologies, and law enforcement.
During the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum held in eastern China last September, the Minister of Public Security announced that China had trained 2,700 foreign law enforcement officers in 2023, with plans to increase that number to 3,000 by 2025. He also noted that China would deploy security consultants to countries requiring assistance.
A report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) suggested that by providing police training and equipment, China could enhance its security and diplomatic influence without committing itself as a security guarantor. The report, published in October, highlighted China’s focus on strengthening security ties in strategically significant regions, such as Africa and Latin America, where Chinese businesses have a major presence.
China has also prioritized police training in neighboring countries. In 2023, a delegation from Kyrgyzstan’s interior ministry visited China’s Xinjiang region to discuss expanding cooperation on border security training. Additionally, Chinese law enforcement has participated in joint patrols with counterparts in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Despite these efforts, China’s policing diplomacy has faced growing international scrutiny.
In December 2022, Italy ended joint police patrols with China following accusations from rights activists that Beijing was using its overseas “service stations” to pressure Chinese expatriates to return to China to face prosecution.
Similarly, in January 2023, Papua New Guinea halted discussions on China’s offer to assist its police force after opposition from Australia. Two months later, Fiji amended a 2011 policing agreement to remove Chinese officers embedded in its law enforcement agencies.
