Two speedboats handed over to RSIPF

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has received two speedboats from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the Aola base on 13 January 2026.

The speedboat worth SBD 3.5 million dollars was shipped from China and handed over to the RSIPF in the presence of Honourable Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services and PRC’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands H.E. Cai Weiming.

A certificate of handing over was signed between Acting Commissioner of the RSIPF Mr. Mathias Lenialu and China Police Liaison Team (CPLT) Commissioner Mr. Liu Shenghuang.

Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, Honourable (Hon) Jimson Fiau Tanangada, said today’s handover is a significant and historic occasion. It marks the first gifting of police fast crafts by the PRC to the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), and it represents an important milestone in our bilateral cooperation, particularly in the area of policing, maritime security, and national security capability development.

Hon. Tanangada said this important contribution is grounded in the strong cooperation frameworks established between Solomon Islands and the PRC. In March 2022, our two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Police Cooperation. This was followed in April 2022 by the signing of the Solomon Islands-China Security Cooperation Framework and in July 2023 by the Implementation Plan on Police Cooperation.

Minister Tanangada said since the commencement of police cooperation, the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC has consistently demonstrated its commitment through the principles of professionalism, efficiency, friendliness, openness, transparency, and goodwill. Support has been provided across infrastructure, equipment, and capacity-building. The gifting of these two fast police crafts is a clear response to Solomon Islands identified domestic priority to elevate our small craft maritime policing capability.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Solomon Islands, I wish to sincerely thank the PRC, through H.E the PRC’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands, for this timely and valuable support. These vessels will serve our country well and will make a lasting contribution to strengthening police maritime capability.

H.E. Cai Weiming, during the boat handover, said these two police speedboats are well designed and quickly built. With an average speed of 34 knots per hour, the two boats are aimed to boost the capacity of RSIPF maritime enforcement units.

H.E. Weiming said the Solomon Islands has more than 900 islands and vast maritime space, making maritime policing a critical part of the law enforcement system. These police speedboats will serve as powerful tools to enhance RSIPF’s capabilities in maritime patrol, emergency rescue, and combating maritime crimes.

“The successful delivery of these two police speedboats is not only the latest achievement in China－Solomon Islands police cooperation but also a solid measure to address the emerging challenges in maritime law enforcement for Solomon Islands,” said Mr. Weiming.

He said law enforcement cooperation is a significant part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the Solomon Islands.  Since 2022, at the invitation of the Solomon Islands, China has sent 7 CPLT to support RSIPF in capacity building and public order management and work together to improve the betterment of Solomon Islands people.

PRC’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands H. E. Cai Weiming gives his remarks during the boat handover at Aola base.

Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, Honourable (Hon) Jimson Fiau Tanangada, gives his remarks during the handing over of two new speedboats.

Right to left: Acting Commissioner Mr. Mathias Lenialu, PRC’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands H. E. Cai Weiming, and Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, Honourable (Hon) Jimson Fiau Tanangada, await the arrival of the two new speedboats.

One of the two new speedboats comes to dock at the Aola base as part of the program.

Officials who await the arrival of the two new speedboats to dock at the Aola base

Right-Acting Commissioner of the RSIPF Mr. Mathias Lenialu and CPLT Commissioner Mr. Liu Shenghuang signing a certificate of handover of the two new speedboats to the RSIPF.

Right-Acting Commissioner of the RSIPF Mr. Mathias Lenialu and CPLT Commissioner Mr. Liu Shenghuang shake hands after the signing of the certificate.

Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, Honourable (Hon) Jimson Fiau Tanangada, and PRC’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands H. E. Cai Weiming inside one of the two new speedboats on a test run from Aola base to Kakabona after the handing-over ceremony.

Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, Honourable (Hon) Jimson Fiau Tanangada inside the new police speedboat.

Front-CPLT Commissioner Mr. Liu Shenghuang salutes and welcomes the arrival of two new speedboats.

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