U.S. warning over Chinese police on Kiribati

The U.S. has cautioned Pacific Islands nations against assistance from Chinese security forces after reports that police from Beijing are working in the remote island chain of Kiribati

KIRIBATI
Population
115,000 (2023)

Area: 3.4 million sq km of ocean – world’s third largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Strategic value: Hosts Japanese satellite tracking station. China plans to rebuild World War II U.S. military airstrip on Kanton Island (right)

KANTON ISLAND 
Airstrip
Lagoon
U.S. pledging to upgrade dock facility
2km 1.25 miles


MARSHALL ISLANDS 
U.S.
CHINA
JAPAN 
MICRONESIA
Guam (U.S.)
PALAU 
NAURU
PACIFIC  OCEAN
Hawaii (U.S.)
KIRIBATI
Cook Islands (NZL)
Niue (NZL)
SAMOA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Tarawa
TUVALU
FIJI
TONGA
VANUATU 
NEW ZEALAND
INDIAN OCEAN
AUSTRALIA
SOLOMON ISLANDS

2,000km 1,250 miles
              
Recognises: People’s Republic of China Taiwan (Republic of China) 

Sources: Reuters, SCMP Picture: Google Maps © GRAPHIC NEWS