Beijing: China is significantly expanding its global security influence by offering to train 3,000 foreign law enforcement officers over the next year, a move aimed at protecting Chinese assets and advancing its geopolitical interests. The initiative, part of China’s broader Global Security Initiative (GSI), comes amid growing concerns about Beijing's increasing presence in countries involved in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In previous years, China has pressed Pakistan and other nations to allow private security forces to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other BRI projects. Several countries, especially in Africa, have already accepted Chinese personnel for such purposes. Now, as reported by the South China Morning Post, China will shift its strategy by using domestic law enforcement in host countries to safeguard its overseas investments. This marks a significant shift in Beijing's approach to protecting its assets abroad and highlights its growing role as a global security provider.

China's Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong announced the training program at the 2024 Conference of the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. The program will not only train foreign officers but also deploy Chinese police consultants and operational units to help improve law enforcement capacities, conduct joint patrols, and address cross-border crimes. This is part of a broader effort under President Xi Jinping’s GSI, which was introduced in 2022 to enhance China’s global security presence.

The Lianyungang conference, themed "Win-win cooperation under changing circumstances: building a global public security community," saw participation from more than 2,100 representatives from 122 countries. Discussions at the event focused on tourist security, police education, and capacity building in law enforcement. Wang emphasized China's commitment to promoting global security governance in a "fair, reasonable, and efficient direction." He also met with security officials from countries like Malaysia, Myanmar, Zambia, Nicaragua, and Russia to discuss cooperation on fighting telecom fraud, drug trafficking, and securing BRI projects.

The GSI represents China’s efforts to establish an alternative to the Western-led security architecture. Last year, China trained 2,700 foreign officers, and this year’s expansion reflects Beijing’s ambition to lead in global security. Wang’s comments, echoed by Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al Raisi, highlight China's growing influence in international law enforcement efforts. Al Raisi praised China’s role in supporting Interpol’s Operation First Light 2024, a global policing initiative that froze over 6,700 bank accounts linked to online scam networks and seized assets worth $257 million.

China's security ambitions are not limited to training programs. The GSI has facilitated high-level peace talks, such as the Iran-Saudi Arabia mediation and a peace proposal for the Ukraine war. These efforts underscore China’s desire to expand its global influence while opposing "hegemonism and bullying," according to Wang. One recent example of this growing influence is China’s pledge to train 1,000 African police officers, further deepening its security ties with the continent.

While China presents the GSI as a way to improve global security governance, analysts argue it is also a tool to expand Beijing's geopolitical influence and challenge the U.S.-led security order. Critics have raised concerns that China’s training programs could export authoritarian policing methods, especially in countries where it has invested heavily in BRI projects, such as Africa.

The GSI’s implications extend beyond Africa and the Indo-Pacific. In 2022, China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, raising alarm in the West about Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific. With China pledging to provide 5,000 training opportunities for law enforcement professionals over the next five years, the West faces a new security challenge. The upcoming Quad summit in Washington, scheduled for September 21, will likely address these concerns, emphasizing the need for stronger security cooperation to counterbalance China’s growing footprint.

As China continues to position itself as a global security leader, its efforts under the GSI will likely reshape security dynamics in many developing nations, prompting both opportunities and challenges for the international community.