"Beijing is hoping to normalise and legitimise its policing style and… the authoritarian political system in which it operates," @BethanyAllenEbr tells @AFP as law enforcement officers from over 100 countries attend a security conference in 🇨🇳.
Read 👇https://t.co/T5IweOdN8t
— ASPI (@ASPI_org) September 16, 2024
China has announced plans to train thousands of foreign law enforcement officers as part of its efforts to shape the world order in a “more fair, reasonable, and efficient direction.” The announcement was made by Wang Xiaohong, China’s minister for public security, at an annual global security forum in the eastern city of Lianyungang. Wang addressed representatives from 122 countries, regions, and international organizations, stating that China will also send police consultants to countries in need to help improve their law enforcement capabilities quickly and effectively. This initiative is part of the ruling Communist party’s ongoing efforts to position China as a global security leader.
As part of its plan to position itself as a global security leader, China will train thousands of foreign law enforcement officers to shape a "fairer" world order. The GSI concept includes bilateral security deals, particularly with developing nations.https://t.co/QNGxIhpcFt
— World Uyghur Congress (@UyghurCongress) September 13, 2024
The forum aligns with China’s 2022 Global Security Initiative (GSI), launched by President Xi Jinping, which focuses on improving global security governance and promoting durable peace. However, some human rights groups have raised concerns that recent training programs, particularly for African police officers, heavily focus on protecting Chinese commercial interests often connected to the state’s Belt and Road Initiative. Public reports of the speech did not specify which countries or officers would receive the training or where it would take place.
Analysts see the GSI as a vehicle for China to reshape the current US-dominated world order.
Thanks to @AFP for the chance to offer a few thoughts on China's growing influence on global security via police training & surveillance tech exports: https://t.co/Fee0S104Jf
— Sheena Chestnut Greitens (@SheenaGreitens) September 13, 2024
Training foreign enforcement officers
The initiative includes a series of bilateral security and policing agreements with developing nations, particularly in Africa.
1/ On Monday, Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong announced plans to train thousands of foreign law enforcement officers to promote a "more fair" world order. https://t.co/iwWb0jjfWz
— Human Rights Foundation (@HRF) September 13, 2024
Last year, Beijing stated that the GSI aimed to enhance cooperation between military and police academies and offered 5,000 training opportunities over five years to address global security issues. Wang indicated that China has already trained 2,700 foreign officers in the past year and plans to train an additional 3,000. Following a recent China-Africa forum, Beijing announced that it would train 1,000 more police enforcement officers for the African continent, although it remains unclear if these officers are part of the 3,000 mentioned by Wang.
On Tuesday, during the China-central Asia summit on public security, Wang met with senior officials from five nations to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation against terrorism and transnational crime. These efforts are part of broader partnerships, such as the one signed in July with Timor Leste, involving military and police training, joint exercises, and law enforcement cooperation. Meanwhile, an agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2022 on law enforcement and security matters caused concern among the US and other Western allies, leading to a rebuffed regional agreement with Pacific nations.
