The key facts

  • Vanuatu confirmed Australia's status as its primary policing partner after the Nakamal Agreement was signed on 29 June
  • Police cooperation with China, according to Vanuatu, is time-bound and 'is expected to taper off'
  • The date of signing the memorandum with Beijing on police cooperation has not been independently confirmed

Statement after the agreement with Australia

Vanuatu has said that its policing arrangement with China 'is expected to taper off over time', reconfirming Australia's status as its primary policing partner. The statement followed the signing of the Nakamal Agreement by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Canberra on 29 June; the document covers cooperation in security, the economy and development.

Meeting of the Nakamal committee

Vanuatu clarified its position at the first meeting of the Nakamal committee at Parliament House in Canberra on 15 October, as stated in a joint communiqué published on Monday by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Attending the meeting were Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Pacific Affairs Minister Pat Conroy and Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo.

Differences between the arrangements

Vanuatu — an island nation in the South Pacific located roughly 1,750 km east of Australia — noted that its policing arrangement with China is time-bound, whereas the agreement with Australia is legally binding and has no expiry date. Vanuatu also committed to prioritising requests for policing assistance from members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Context of cooperation with China

Vanuatu has maintained police cooperation with China since 2023, including police training, advisers and equipment deliveries. In September 2025, Vanuatu announced plans to conclude a formal policing memorandum with Beijing after talks between the two countries' security ministers; the purported arrangement covered police training, equipment, cybercrime, transnational crime and general law enforcement. However, the date of signing the memorandum has not been independently confirmed.

Broader background

China failed to conclude a comprehensive security agreement with Pacific nations in May 2022, after which it developed bilateral policing arrangements, including with Solomon Islands and Fiji.