6,000+ Mauritian Public Workers Receive Chinese Training before Strategic Chagos Deal

The UK government’s plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been branded a “huge strategic blunder,” as reports reveal more than 6,000 Mauritian officials have undergone “indoctrination” and specialised training sponsored by China.

Conservative MPs and security critics have raised the alarm over the scale of Beijing’s influence on the island nation.

Data from the Mauritian government shows that thousands of public sector and local authority workers have travelled to China for courses ranging from “capacity building” to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into public services.

A ‘National Security Risk’

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel described the training programmes as a “real risk” to British national security.

Speaking to The Telegraph, she warned that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “weak and feeble” pursuit of the £35bn treaty would grant China significant leverage over a territory critical to Western interests.

Under the proposed deal, the UK would hand sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base—a vital facility used by both the UK and US since the 1970s.

Critics argue that because the treaty requires the disclosure of confidential operational information to Mauritius, an ally of China, the base could be exposed to Chinese espionage.

Mounting Evidence of Influence

The depth of the Sino-Mauritian relationship has come under intense scrutiny following several key developments:

• Mass Training: Over 6,000 public officers have already benefitted from Chinese programmes, with hundreds more scheduled for “coaching” in key reform areas through 2026.
• Diplomatic Surge: Conservative analysis found that the Chinese embassy in Mauritius has issued 80 press releases since the treaty was signed in May—a nearly five-fold increase from the 17 issued the previous year.
• Strategic Partnerships: In July 2025, the two nations committed to advancing cooperation in AI and public sector training.

At a “reunion reception” held at the Chinese embassy in Mauritius, trainees were reportedly encouraged by the Chinese ambassador to use their new skills to strengthen the “China-Mauritius friendship.”

International Tension

The controversy follows a delay in the House of Lords debate on the deal, prompted by scathing criticism from Donald Trump, who labelled the handover an act of “great stupidity.”

The White House has also expressed concerns that the plan could expose US military assets to Chinese spying.

While it remains unclear if the Chinese-trained officials will have direct roles in the administration of the Chagos Islands, the Tories have warned of intensifying “collusion” between the Mauritian government and the Chinese Communist Party.

Examples cited include initiatives to promote Chinese-language skills in Mauritian schools and calls for the nation to formally join China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: Telegraph