# Vanuatu Internal Affairs Minister Contradicts Government on Chinese Police Drawdown

> Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, publicly disputed his government's recent statement about reducing China's police presence, creating diplomatic uncertainty.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-21T20:07:26.465249Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/vanuatu-internal-affairs-minister-contradicts-government-on-chinese-police-drawdown-de8ee8ce

Andrew Napuat, Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs, publicly stated around October 21, 2026, that his nation “has not yet made any decision to reduce China's police presence” [1]. This declaration directly contradicted a joint statement issued by the Vanuatu government just six days prior, on October 15, 2026, which indicated that its policing partnership with China was “expected to reduce over time” [7][10][13]. The conflicting messages raise questions about Vanuatu's unified diplomatic stance as it navigates security cooperation with both China and Australia.

## What the records show

Vanuatu began police cooperation with China in 2023, receiving training, advisors, and equipment [7][9]. This relationship continued despite a significant new agreement with Australia. On October 15, 2026, during the inaugural Nakamal Committee meeting in Canberra, Vanuatu's delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo, clarified that its policing arrangement with China was “time-limited and expected to reduce over time” [7][10][13]. The delegation reaffirmed the Nakamal Agreement with Australia as legally binding, without an expiry date, and reiterated Australia as Vanuatu's “longstanding primary policing partner” [7][10][13]. However, on or around October 21, 2026, Minister Napuat issued a public statement asserting that there was no decision to reduce China's police presence [1].

## Timeline

Vanuatu initiated policing cooperation with China in 2023, receiving training, advisors, and equipment [7][9]. In September 2025, Andrew Napuat, then Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs, visited Beijing, reportedly seeking a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on policing with China [4][5][19]. During this visit, on September 19, 2025, Napuat met with China's State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, and expressed a desire to deepen cooperation [16].

On June 29, 2026, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat signed the comprehensive “Nakamal Agreement” in Canberra [9][21]. This agreement designated Australia as Vanuatu's “longstanding primary policing partner” and included provisions to prevent foreign military bases [9][21]. Despite this, Minister Napuat continued to engage with China. On September 8, 2026, he co-chaired the 5th Ministerial Dialogue on Police Capacity Building and Cooperation in Beijing with China's Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong [2]. During this dialogue, Wang announced a new three-year police cooperation initiative for 2027-2029 [2]. Napuat also held a separate meeting with Wang Xiaohong on the same day [3]. Reports indicated Napuat's September 2026 visit aimed to renew the police cooperation agreement with China [18].

The official Vanuatu government position was articulated on October 15, 2026, at the inaugural Nakamal Committee meeting in Canberra. The Vanuatu delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo, stated that its policing partnership with China was “time-limited and expected to reduce over time” [7][10][11][13]. They reaffirmed the Nakamal Agreement with Australia as legally binding and without an expiry date, reiterating Australia as its “longstanding primary policing partner” [7][10][13]. Around October 21, 2026, Andrew Napuat publicly contradicted this statement, claiming no decision had been made to reduce China's police presence [1].

## What changed and for whom

The signing of the Nakamal Agreement in June 2026 marked a formal commitment by Vanuatu to Australia as its primary policing partner [9][21]. This agreement was interpreted as signaling an expected reduction in China's policing presence over time [6][7][10]. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) indicated that its team in Vanuatu could nearly double in size as a consequence of the Nakamal Agreement [22]. However, Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat stressed that the government had not yet approved such an increase in Australian police officers [22]. Minister Napuat's subsequent statement around October 21 directly challenged the publicly articulated government position, creating an impression of internal disagreement or a lack of unified policy regarding foreign security partnerships.

## What the subject has said publicly

During his September 2025 visit to Beijing, Andrew Napuat met with China's Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong. He conveyed gratitude and a desire to deepen cooperation between the two nations [16]. In his statement around October 21, 2026, Napuat explicitly asserted that Vanuatu “has not yet made any decision to reduce China's police presence” [1].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the specific terms or full text of the Memorandum of Understanding on policing that Minister Napuat reportedly sought with China in September 2025. The exact number of Chinese police officers or advisors currently operating in Vanuatu also remains unconfirmed. Additionally, the precise details of China's three-year police cooperation initiative for 2027-2029, announced during the September 2026 Ministerial Dialogue, were not available. The internal discussions within the Vanuatu government leading to Minister Napuat's contradictory statement could not be confirmed.

## Evidence cited
1. Vanuatu minister contradicts own government on Chinese police drawdown (www.abc.net.au) — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-22/vanuatu-minister-says-no-plans-to-reduce-chinese-police-presence/107293920
2. September 14, 2026. BY DOUGLAS VAHIA. Solomon Islands has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen police capacity and national security through continued cooperation with China. Solomon Islands Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, His Excellency Barrett Salato, made the reaffirmation when he attended the 5th Ministerial Dialogue on Police Capacity Building and Cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries in Beijing on September 8. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a (theislandsun.com.sb) — https://theislandsun.com.sb/
3. China urges practical police cooperation with Pacific Islands (chinadailyhk.com) — https://chinadailyhk.com/
4. Australia's Pacific push runs into familiar resistance in Vanuatu (nit.com.au) — https://nit.com.au/
5. Vanuatu could sign policing agreement with China after snubbing Australia (thenightly.com.au) — https://thenightly.com.au/
6. Vanuatu expects reduction in China's police presence | ABC News (youtube.com) — https://youtube.com/
7. Police arrangement with China 'expected to reduce over time,' says Vanuatu after pact with Australia (aa.com.tr) — https://aa.com.tr/
8. How Is Security Influence Evolving Across the Pacific? (csis.org) — https://csis.org/
9. Australia and Vanuatu sign deal to block foreign military bases (aljazeera.com) — https://aljazeera.com/
10. Vanuatu government expects fall in China police presence after deal with Australia – VBTC (vbtc.vu) — https://vbtc.vu/
11. Inaugural Australia-Vanuatu Nakamal Committee meeting (dfat.gov.au) — https://dfat.gov.au/
12. Vanuatu exempt from Australian international student visa fee hikes (postcourier.com.pg) — https://postcourier.com.pg/
13. Vanuatu expects reduction in China's police presence — ABC News Australia (ua.news) — https://ua.news/
14. Vanuatu government expects fall in China police presence after deal with Australia (cedarnews.net) — https://cedarnews.net/
15. Vanuatu government expects fall in China police presence after deal with Australia (actumap.com) — https://actumap.com/
16. China's police chief meets with Vanuatu's minister of internal affairs--English_Xinhua (www.gov.cn) — https://www.gov.cn/
17. China donates equipment to Vanuatu police following meeting in Beijing (pmn.co.nz) — https://pmn.co.nz/
18. (October 19 2026) Napat's intervention can be read as an effort to retain influence over its scale and pace, while continuing police cooperation with Australia. The same statement shows that the options are not being preserved on equal terms. Vanuatu describes its Chinese policing arrangement as time-limited and expected to diminish, while the Australian agreement is legally binding and has no expiry date. Australia is identified as the primary policing partner, with requests for assistance prio (eigenradar.com) — https://eigenradar.com/
19. (January 31 2026) In November 2025, Vanuatu's. Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, traveled to Beijing, where he met with the Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong. He announced that the two countries might soon sign a. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on police assistance programs. 40 Additionally, Vanuatu's government recently announced that all foreign advisors embedded in its national security administration would have to leave government buildings.41 While this applies to ... (ugent.be) — https://ugent.be/
20. (April 08 2026) ... a donation of police equipment worth approximately 40 million VT, including: ✓ 10 police motorcycles ✓ 1,200 sets of police uniforms ✓ Over 530 pieces of traffic batons, riot shields, and T-shaped batons This donation reflects the strong partnership between China and Vanuatu. Together, we build a safer community! No photo description available. +6 · Nesta Vaxal and 53 others. 54 reactions ·. 8 comments. ·. 27 shares. China donates 20 million vatu equipment to Vanuatu police.  (facebook.com) — https://facebook.com/
21. Transcript of joint press conference with Prime Minister of Vanuatu, The Honourable Jotham Napat, Parliament House, Canberra | Prime Minister of Australia (pm.gov.au) — https://pm.gov.au/
22. Vanuatu PM pushes back on proposed AFP increase, says no approval given (pina.com.fj) — https://pina.com.fj/