China's Surveillance Model Expands to Solomon Islands, Raising Concerns

In Beijing, China, flags of the Solomon Islands and China were seen near the Tiananmen Gate in July 2023. Reports indicate that China has introduced its village surveillance model to the Solomon Islands. This model involves Chinese police collecting data, including fingerprints, to manage social unrest.

The "Fengqiao" model, originally developed in China during the 1960s, aims to mobilize communities and maintain stability. In the Solomon Islands, a security partner of Beijing, Chinese police have been promoting this concept in several villages. They have been engaging with residents, including children, through activities like games involving surveillance drones.

The Fengqiao model involves a grid system where managers monitor households. According to experts, this approach allows the Chinese Communist Party to mobilize support and prevent social conflicts. However, it is unusual to see this model implemented outside of China due to its reliance on specific social and political structures.

A community leader in the Solomon Islands confirmed that the village of Fighter 1 is working with Chinese police on a Fengqiao pilot program. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force stated that the program in Fighter 1 would collect population data to improve security. Chinese police have introduced residents to population management, household registration, community mapping, and the collection of biometric data.

The police force stated that the initiative would expand to other areas. An opposition party politician expressed concerns about the program, stating it infringes on individual rights. The office of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister referred questions to the police.

In February, China's Ministry of Public Security held a seminar on the Fengqiao Experience in the Solomon Islands. A local resident near Fighter 1 noted a decline in social order and a rise in lawlessness. Traditionally, village elders managed communities, but this system faces challenges in urban fringe areas. The resident suggested the program could help create order and collect data.

Another politician expressed concern that the program could lead to an authoritarian system. An Australian academic, an expert on China's legal system, stated this was the first time they had heard of the Fengqiao model being implemented outside of China. Chinese police have also promoted Fengqiao in Malaita, the largest province in the Solomon Islands, which has a history of anti-China protests. This occurred after a security pact was signed between China and the Solomon Islands in 2022.