China Gifts Fiji’s President a Luxury Ride Sparking Spying Concerns

The Government of China has gifted His Excellency President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu a luxury executive sedan, ironically named the “Red Flag.”

The vehicle — a Hongqi H9 executive sedan — was formally handed over to the Office of the President in a ceremony at State House, marking what both governments described as another milestone in the Fiji-China relationship.

China’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Fiji, Mr Wang Yuan. highlighted the significance of the Hongqi brand — meaning “Red Flag” — describing it as China’s most prestigious automobile line. Established in 1958, Hongqi vehicles are commonly used by Chinese leaders for official state functions and diplomatic engagements.

While diplomatic gifts of this nature are not uncommon, similar high-value donations by China in other regions have previously attracted scrutiny in international security discussions.

In 2018, media reports alleged that the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa — which was financed and built by China — had its computer systems covertly transmitting data to servers in Shanghai during late-night hours.

Chinese and African Union officials denied the allegations, but the incident triggered wider global debate about cybersecurity, data sovereignty and the strategic implications of foreign-funded infrastructure.

More recently, Western lawmakers and security agencies have raised concerns about modern vehicles functioning as “computers on wheels,” capable of collecting location, audio and digital data.

Some governments have flagged Chinese-manufactured smart vehicles as potential national security risks.