9-9-2024 (BEIJING) China has announced plans to train thousands of law enforcement officers from various countries over the next year. This initiative, unveiled by Chinese Police Chief Wang Xiaohong, marks a significant expansion of China’s international policing influence.
Speaking at a high-profile security conference in the eastern port city of Lianyungang, Wang revealed that Chinese police have already trained 2,700 officers from abroad in the past year. The ambitious plan aims to coach an additional 3,000 officers from diverse nations in the coming 12 months.
“We will also dispatch police consultants to countries in need, conducting training to swiftly and effectively enhance their law enforcement capabilities,” Wang stated, emphasising China’s commitment to global security cooperation.
The conference, drawing law enforcement representatives from 122 countries, regions, and international organisations – including Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Interpol – serves as a platform for China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI). Proposed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2022, the GSI aims to address international issues through multilateral cooperation.
However, some analysts view the GSI as China’s strategy to expand its global influence and challenge the current US-led security paradigm. Benjamin Ho, an assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ China Programme, told AFP, “It’s almost like saying ‘if you don’t like the Western way of doing things, we’ve got the Chinese alternative’.”
Wang’s speech highlighted concerns about the politicisation of law enforcement and the demonisation of international cooperation. He emphasised China’s rejection of “any form of hegemonism and bullying,” while acknowledging ongoing regional security risks stemming from conflicts in Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, and the Red Sea.
The conference also served as a showcase for China’s advanced policing equipment. Exhibition halls displayed cutting-edge technology, including face-recognition software for fugitive identification, armoured vehicles, and various crowd control devices. Rose-gold handcuffs, batons, and bulletproof vests were prominently featured, attracting interest from potential overseas buyers.
This display of technological prowess is seen as part of China’s strategy to highlight its domestic security successes. “The Chinese are trying to emphasise how ‘safe and secure’ their country is, especially with their latest surveillance techniques,” Ho explained. “This logic could be quite appealing to countries struggling with their own domestic security issues.”
