[thread] Since it has become a topic of intense debate within the China watchers, let me explain something about the Italy-China joint police patrols [1/7] 
The Memorandum on Belt and Road has only given another meaning to the agreement, because the decision to cooperate in security fields was taken in September 2015. At that time, Italy Interior Minister was Angelino Alfano (link in Italian ambpechino.esteri.it/ambasciata_pec…) [2/7]
The first joint patrol was held in Rome and Milan in May 2016, officially to "support Chinese tourists". Then, in May 2017, two Italian policemen and two Carabinieri have been dispatched in Beijing and Shanghai. The Italy-China MoU also mentions "areas of tourist interest" [3/7]
Rome, Milan, Beijing and Shanghai are actually "areas of tourist interest". But in June 2017 8 chinese policemen – 2 for city – started to patrol Rome, Milan, Venice AND Prato, that is not a touristic area, but the biggest Chinese community in Italy video.iltirreno.gelocal.it/locale/prato-i… [4/7]
Now the number of Chinese policemen are increasing: "10 police officers from China will join police in Italy to help handle cases and incidences related to the safety of Chinese traveling or living in Italy". Tourism is no more the core issue xinhuanet.com/english/2019-1… [5/7]
During the opening ceremony in 2016 Alfano said: "This is an unprecedented initiative, an experimental project, which strengthens police cooperation and sees Italy as a starting point for Europe". In 2016 Italy is the only G7 country to join the first Belt&Road Forum [6/7]
Serbia is the only Europ country to have a similar coop in 09/2019. But Serbia is European area and not European Union. For China it's important to have Italy on his side: "Chinese police officers participate in joint patrols in other countries of the region and in the EU" [7/7]
CORRECTION: Also Croatia in 2018: "Six uniformed Chinese police officers started joint patrol with their Croatian counterparts" xinhuanet.com/english/2018-0… Croatia *is* European Union
