On August 11, 2026, a diplomatic controversy between China and Vanuatu came to light; Chinese authorities alleged that a criminal organization operated gambling rooms inside the Consulate General of Vanuatu in Guangzhou for four months, while Vanuatu’s opposition has now taken the case to the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate possible official responsibility.
The operation allegedly ran between January and April 2025. According to a Chinese diplomatic communication, gaming tables, equipment and chips were installed inside the consular premises, while several individuals were allegedly organized and recruited to enter the compound and gamble. The criminal investigation was still open when China formally raised the issue.
The key document is dated September 15, 2025, and was sent by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Embassy of Vanuatu in Beijing. China demanded an explanation of how diplomatic premises came to be used as a gambling venue and requested clarification on whether consular officials or employees had participated in the operation.
Marc Ati
The conduct described could fall under Article 303 of China’s Criminal Law, which criminalizes opening or operating casinos. The offense can carry up to five years in prison plus a fine, increasing to between five and ten years in serious circumstances. In addition, Article 55(2) of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations establishes that consular premises must not be used in any manner incompatible with the exercise of consular functions.
Jotham Napat
The controversy returned to the forefront on August 11 because Vanuatu’s opposition filed a complaint with the Ombudsman, alleging that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade received China’s communication but failed to respond for an extended period. The Ombudsman’s Office confirmed receipt of the complaint and is assessing whether further investigations should be conducted. As of August 2026, the institution is headed by Hamlison Bulu, Ombudsman of Vanuatu, while Marc Ati serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Jotham Napat as Prime Minister.
Jacques Himford
Another name under political scrutiny is Jacques Himford, Vanuatu’s Consul General in Guangzhou. The opposition claims that he was removed from his position and subsequently reinstated. However, there is no public evidence that Himford has been formally accused of organizing, participating in or benefiting from the alleged casino, nor has any other consular official been publicly identified as responsible.
Vanuatu’s Foreign Ministry maintains that the matter was resolved in 2025, but has not disclosed what measures were taken, when it formally responded to Beijing or whether sanctions were imposed. The amount wagered, money seized, number of gamblers and arrests, and identities of the alleged criminal organization’s members also remain publicly unknown. The Ombudsman’s examination will now determine whether, beyond the potential gambling offenses investigated in China, there was maladministration or responsibility by Vanuatu public officials in the handling of a case that remained outside public scrutiny until August 11, 2026.
