The rise of China in Vanuatu and the South Pacific. 

The Chinese Communist Party has long-standing links with Vanuatu’s main political parties (VP, UMP, RMC, NUP). In 1993, China funded the construction of Vanuatu’s large parliamentary building. Vanuatu’s first Prime Minister Walter Lini – founder of the National United Party – signed a diplomatic agreement with China, and there have been many visits between the countries since then. Some of these include a visit by China’s National People’s Congress in 2017, a virtual meeting with the Vanuatu parliament in 2021, a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in 2022 and an invitation by Vanuatu for China to provide the opening address at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leader’s Summit in 2023. The Chinese medical ship, Ark Peace, also visited Port Vila between 8-14 August 2023 and offered free medical services to the public.

In July 2024, China handed over the keys to several government buildings including a large presidential palace, an adjoining national convention centre, and several government offices. China’s embassy declared that China had gifted Vanuatu "another landmark building", while symbolising a new "milestone" in their increasingly warm relationship.

While Vanuatu welcomed the gift as a ‘gesture of goodwill’, there is growing concern about China’s motives, particularly providing high profile gifts that enhance the status or the physical comfort of leaders in Vanuatu and other Pacific Island countries. Aside from questions surrounding reciprocity, there is also concern that these countries will be unable to maintain the structures in the future without help.

While China is expanding economic ties and investments in the Pacific, increased security cooperation is causing alarm. There is widespread concern that China’s recent agreement with the Solomon Islands may be seen as a blueprint for other Pacific nations to follow. The agreement allows the Solomon Islands to request police or military personnel from China and permits Chinese naval ships to have access to shipping lanes 1200 nautical miles from Australia’s shores. With Vanuatu being so close to Australia, any such agreement with China would be a major concern. Australia has traditionally been a longstanding security partner for many islands in the Pacific, providing both military and policing assistance on request.

China is already assisting the Vanuatu Polic Force (VPF) by providing “police experts” equipment and uniforms. According to the Chinese Embassy, the capability needs of the VPF have been assessed at Vanuatu’s invitation. This came at a time when Vanuatu’s opposition leader Bob Loughman lodged a no-confidence partition, criticising Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau for signing a security pact with Australia. According to Loughman, the security pact compromised Vanuatu's "neutral" status and could jeopardise development assistance from China, its biggest creditor.

This recently expanded relationship is troubling at a time when the Government of Vanuatu has expressed a desire to grow the Vanuatu Mobile Force VMF (an arm of the police force) into a fully-fledged military. Australia would be a natural partner to assist Vanuatu to form a military, although China, New Zealand, France, and the United States have also worked with the VMF in the past.

For further information on Vanuatu’s relationship with China, see the resources below:

Videos

1. The China Syndrome: Part One – Is China taking over the South Pacific? (60 Minutes Australia, 9m 24s)
2. Vanuatu’s Way of Life Threatened Amid Rising Chinese Investment (Radio Free Asia, 10m 15s) 

Podcast

1. China’s Influence in Melanesia: A Conversation with Pete Connolly (Centre for Strategic and International Studies,47m 21s)
2. Step Up or Be Overrun: China’s Challenge for the Pacific (The Little Red Podcast, 36m 18s)

Articles

1. On the ground in Vanuatu, monuments to China's growing influence are everywhere (smh.com.au)
2. Chinese military base in Vanuatu rumours, News, La Trobe University
3. A new China loan threatens Vanuatu’s debt outlook | Lowy Institute
4. Chinese police experts arrive in Vanuatu amid political crisis | Reuters
5. The Long Arm of Chinese Law Reaches Vanuatu, Again – The Diplomat
6. One year, three agreements: shaping thinking on regional security - Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre
7. US to open embassy in Vanuatu as it seeks to counter China in the Pacific | Vanuatu | The Guardian
8. Vanuatu Prime Minister Is Ousted Amid Criticism of Being Pro-West - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
9. Great power rivalry shakes up Pacific Island nation | Responsible Statecraft
10. Awkward alarum: China, Vanuatu and Oz | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)