Chinese Government provides SBD 5 million in security equipment to Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in October 2023

On October 30, 2023, the Chinese Government donated security equipment and materials valued at SBD 5 million to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to support security operations for the 2023 Pacific Games in November.

The handover ceremony at Rove Police Headquarters was attended by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Chargé d’Affaires Ding Yonghua, and senior police officials from both countries.

The donation included 1,600 items, namely 1,300 sets of security clothing and shoes, 2 unmanned aerial vehicles, 2 inspection machines, 29 metal detectors, 1 video transmission system, 200 radio walkie-talkies, and 120 handheld metal detectors.

The donation is part of a three-year "SI–PRC Police Cooperation Agreement", and was implemented by China’s Ministry of Public Security, which also conducted pre-Games security training for RSIPF officers and deployed additional personnel from the China Police Liaison Team (CPLT) as part of broader police cooperation efforts.

The donation and increased Chinese police presence generated concern among some regional actors, particularly Australia, about China's growing security influence in the Solomon Islands.