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Vanuatu - China Relations

In August 2005, Vanuatu's Honorary Consulate to Beijing was upgraded to an Embassy. The Embassy was officially opened on January 16, 2006. The President of Vanuatu a six-day visit to China in July 2007 in which he met with President Hu Jintao. He hoped that this momentum would lead to a stronger economic relationship. Noting that most of China's investment was in the real estate and hospitality sector, he encouraged China to send more trade delegations to Vanuatu to explore ways of expanding investment. Consul General Cheung noted that Vanuatu was upgrading its airport and would be able to have direct flights from China to Vanuatu in 2008. All of the representatives from Vanuatu emphasized the country's strong commitment to the One China Policy. Vanuatu appears to still be trying to assure China of its loyalty. In 2004, its Prime Minister reached an agreement with Taiwan to establish relations and cut off relations with the Mainland. The treaty was never ratified by the Vanuatu Parliament and the Prime Minister was eventually dismissed. China wanted Vanuatu to not only adhere to the One China Policy but also persuade other pacific island nations to cut off ties with Taiwan and establish relations with the Mainland. China was also interested in developing Vanuatu's "marine resources", primarily seafood.

Vanuatu had a strong interest in attracting more Chinese economic investment and assistance. In contrast to Australia, which targeted assistance to infrastructure and other public projects, Chinese assistance came mainly in the form of economic investment. Chinese assistance also did not have any "strings-attached." China also treated Vanuatu as an equal and did not put any restrictions on Vanuatu people or businesses wanting to enter the country. This was not the case with Australia, which had strict immigration policies. In February 2017 the government of China has supplied 14 military-designed vehicles to Vanuatu to be use by the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF). It included transport vehicles, medics to evacuate casualties, vehicles for official use and other equipment to be used at the base, VMF workshop. The head of the government, Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai, received the keys of these heavy vehicles from the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu, Liu Quan, then handed over to the Acting Commissioner, Robson Iavro. Apart from the vehicles, China also provided equipment such as boots and socks, raincoat, travelling bags including new uniforms.