China has exported its village surveillance model to the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, where Chinese police are piloting fingerprint and data collection to curb social unrest, officials and locals confirmed.

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China’s “Fengqiao” monitoring model – started under Mao Zedong in the 1960s to help communities mobilise against reactionary “class enemies” – has been reinvigorated by Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure stability in local communities.

In the Solomon Islands, a security partner of Beijing, Chinese police have visited several villages this year promoting the Fengqiao concept, familiarising children with surveillance drones by playing games, pictures posted to social media by Solomon Islands police show.

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A community leader in the Solomon Islands, Andrew Nihopara, confirmed to Reuters that the village of Fighter 1 on the fringe of the capital Honiara had begun working with the Chinese police on a Fengqiao pilot, but declined to comment further.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force said in a statement this month the Fengqiao model of “grassroots governance” in Fighter 1 would collect population data to improve security.

Chinese police had introduced residents to population management, household registration, community mapping, and the collection of fingerprints and palm prints, the statement said.

“The Fighter One community is the first attempt, and it will be expanded to a larger area across the country in the future,” the statement quoted Chinese police inspector Lin Jiamu as saying, explaining the initiative would enhance safety.

The move has stirred human rights concerns.

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