The repatriation operation came after a flurry of visits to Thailand and Myanmar by Liu Zhongyi, China’s assistant minister for public security. Liu is now coordinating with the two Southeast Asian countries to crack down on cyber fraud operations in the region, which police and human rights groups say involve human rights abuses apart from criminal activity.
China is expected to increase this type of police diplomacy to expand its influence and protect overseas interests as the world’s second largest economy, as well as the second biggest outbound investor and largest source of international tourists.
Such foreign exchanges on law and order may improve China’s image as a security partner in developing countries, but these are also coming under increasing international scrutiny, according to a China-based analyst.
The Chinese embassy in Honiara, the Solomons’ capital, said on social media on February 11 that 30 local officers took part in the latest training. The topics covered included DNA evidence identification, investigating telecoms fraud, and sexual assault and drug crime prevention, aimed at equipping officers “with skills and tactics to guide and to strengthen the safety concept and improve their operational capabilities”.
