Cooperation, Peace, and Friendship

True Friends and Brothers

When we met the returned fourth batch of Chinese police liaison team to the Solomon Islands in Beijing, my most striking impression was their bronzed skin. Deputy team leader Li Bing explained somewhat bashfully, "The Solomon Islands is near the equator, and it's really hot and sunny. The strong UV rays and sweat can cause patches on our skin, so it's normal for our team to have such a tan."When listening to these advisors talk about their 273-day experience in this Pacific island nation, I realized that their tan, similar to that of the local islanders, was just the most visible sign of their dedication and hard work.

It was a journey of friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding, in name and by nature.

"The cooperation between us and the Chinese police liaison team is open, unconditional, and transparent. Your willingness to support any partners in assisting the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force with team building and combat capabilities development is truly remarkable. You are true friends and good brothers," Mostyn Mangau, the Chief Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, told the advisors of the liaison team on September 14, 2023, during the reception held by the Solomon Islands police to welcome the forth batch and see off the third batch of Chinese police liaison team.

Zhao Jinyong, the leader of the fourth batch of Chinese police liaison team to the Solomon Islands, repeatedly emphasized that the police cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands will adhere to the principles of "professionalism, efficiency, and friendliness" as well as "openness, transparency, and goodwill". He stated that the Chinese police liaison team was willing to cooperate with all Solomon Islands police partners with an open mind, while providing police training, cooperation, and assistance in a transparent manner. This open and transparent approach was acknowledged by their Solomon Islands counterparts and demonstrated in every advisor's daily tasks.

Wan Xu is a resident Chinese advisor at the Solomon Islands National Criminal Investigation Department. During his more than 200-day mission, he worked and lunched with the local police, establishing a close rapport with them. Wan was invited to a celebration held by the National Criminal Investigation Department to mark the success of security operations during national elections. In his opening speech, Acting Director Leslie Simao raved about the support provided by the Chinese police liaison team to the Solomon Islands Criminal Investigation Department and commended Wan as one of the most popular members of the department.

"You are like a Solomon lad, you are one of us!"The phrase "you are one of us" became a common compliment for the advisors of the Chinese liaison team throughout the Solomon Islands, from the main island to the outer islands.

Footsteps Across the Entire Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and belong to the Melanesian Islands. They consist of over 900 islands, including Guadalcanal Island, New Georgia Island, Malaita Island, Choiseul Island, Santa Isabel Island, San Cristobal Island, and the Santa Cruz Islands. The Solomon Islands are divided into nine provinces and one city: Central province, Choiseul province, Guadalcanal province, the capital city Honiara, Isabel province, Makira-Ulawa province, Malaita province, Rennell and Bellona province, Temotu province, and Western province.

At the invitation of the Solomon Islands police, Chinese police officer Zhao Jinyong led a Chinese team of 10 advisors to Malaita province from January 17 to 26 for a police training session and cultural exchange. From February 19 to March 29, the police liaison team dispatched three groups to police stations in eight outer island provinces, excluding Guadalcanal Island where the capital Honiara is located. They successfully trained 268 grassroots police officers and oversaw the handover of more than 400 sets of police equipment. This included the first visits by the Chinese police liaison team to Temotu province, Malaita province, Choiseul province, Makira-Ulawa province, Rennell and Bellona province, and Western province. The liaison team has hitherto covered the entire Solomon Islands, conducting police training, cultural exchanges, and distribution of police equipment.

Behind this success, lies the selfless dedication and hard work of all advisors, leaving many touching stories about the friendship between China and the Solomon Islands among the local people.

Transportation is the primary challenge when traveling to the outer islands. Boats and planes are frequently delayed or canceled, and their age often renders them ill-equipped to withstand harsh weather, resulting in exceptionally bumpy journeys. Accommodations have nothing to recommend, with drinking water often being impurely stored rainwater. Power outages and lack of internet access were common, and mosquitoes, centipedes, rats, and cockroaches were a constant presence in the rooms. Air conditioning and fans were unattainable luxuries. Food primarily consisted of bread, biscuits, and locally produced cassava, which the Chinese advisors were not accustomed to. Training venues were often open grassy areas, exposed to intense heat and UV rays.