The Chinese nationals, whose identities have not been disclosed, were arrested by Vanuatu police in a night raid two weeks ago, prompting local media and observers to suggest it was a sign of Beijing's growing influence over the country.
On Friday, the group were escorted to an unmarked plane, each suspect flanked by a police officer - a Vanuatu one holding one arm, a Chinese officer the other, neither in uniform - and sent to China, the Vanuatu Daily Post newspaper reported.
