PLA gives Tonga Defence 6 million worth of military equipment

© Tevita Motulalo

CHINA has committed 6 million RMB assistance of military equipment to Tonga Defence for the next two years, with the first shipment to arrive in Tonga before August.

The agreement was negotiated by Tonga’s Ambassador to China, H.E Siamelie Latu with Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, who was in Tonga recently in a goodwill visit.

Brigadier General Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu told Tonga Chronicle that the assistance is part of an ongoing engagement between China and Tonga’s military.

“Its really not surprising,” he said.

Adm. Guan is the Deputy Chief of China’s Defence Ministry’s Foreign Affairs Office.

The Admiral conveyed how he understands that the force development of the Tonga Defence includes an increase in the number of soldiers, and his Ministry is prepared to assist training of TDS personnel.

Moreover, he said that China has approved in principle the participation of its military band in the celebration of King George Tupou V birthday in August.

“China is ready to take active measure to further promote the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two armed forces,” a statement of the meeting said.

H.E Latu recently toured the College of Defence Studies (CDS) National Defence University (NDU) of People’s Liberation Army (PLA), where he was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Defence Studies after a yearlong study in 2001.

Receiving him was CDS Deputy Principal, Senior Colonel Guo, who expressed his warm welcome said that it was a great honour for “CDS-NDU is proud of having such a participant in the history of the school.

Latu was accompanied on the tour by his wife, Mrs. Sesilia Monalisa Latu, and was given an honorary military escort to the school at Changping District, Beijing.

Chinese telecom is architect of Tonga’s e-government infrastructure

By Tevita Motulalo

CHINESE telecom enterprise Huawei Technologies is the architect of Tonga’s central and national electronic infrastructure.

“The aim of e-government is to create a Tonga National Information Network to connect multiple arms of government through a central electronic system,” stated the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC).

According to the Secretary of MIC, Paula Ma‘u, Huawei is undertaking a survey of the infrastructure construct, and will make recommendations in a report to government on how to further the initiative.

Ma‘u says the network will exclusively be for government departments, while another project on the pipeline is to facilitate community wide utilization.

The project has the ability to cut out inter-departmental communication that could have otherwise circulated the globe before reaching their destinations, given the departments’ relative proximity.

A delegation from the company has presented a proposal for “a ground-breaking e-government system” to the Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano, before the proposal was discussed with Cabinet on Thursday.

Roads reconstructed with China loan

By Tevita Motulalo

THERE are now completed sections of roads in Nuku’alofa reconstructed with a RMB 291 million loan from China.

China’s Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr. Wang Donghua officially handed over to Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu three completed sections of the 64 road segments throughout Tonga reconstructed with the loan.

He commended the initiative- the “National Road Improvement Project”- will assist the economic recovery of Tonga through safer and quicker access for business and customers, but also through the provision of jobs and activity by the project itself.

Mr. Wang says China has engaged in extensive road construction in the last thirty years, and was one of the key contributions to its economic development.

He says that like China, Tonga is a developing country.

Seabed minerals’ benefits to be maximised for the country

By Tevita Motulalo

Members of the Tonga Police's Special Armed Squad receiving Australian-donated badges from Parlaimentary Secretary Richard Marles last week

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary of Pacific Islands Affairs, Richard Marles thinks the benefits of seabed minerals should be maximised for the benefit of the Pacific country they are taken from.

Marles was in Tonga last week to reaffirm Australia’s support as a Pacific partner and a friend of Tonga, wrapping up a region-wide tour to all the small states in the Pacific.

“We see ourselves as very close friends and we want to be the best of friends that we can be to Tonga,” he said toTonga Chronicle in a doorstep media conference just before departing Nuku‘alofa.

“The Gillard Labour government regards the Pacific as absolutely crucial to Australia’s Foreign Policy. Whatever else happens around the world our neighbourhood will always be our neighbourhood. And for that reason the Pacific is our collective neighbourhood,” he said.

But the issue of seabed minerals had been a key point in discussions with the Tongan Cabinet, amidst the exchange regarding the ‘partners in development’ program for Tonga.

In Tonga, Australian companies are involved in the prospecting for underwater commercial mining and Marles thinks there are two key issues to be looked at.

Roads reconstructed with China loan

© Tevita Motulalo

Workers on Tupoulahi Road, near Janful International Dateline Hotel

There are now completed sections of roads in Nuku’alofa reconstructed with a RMB 291 million loan from China.

China’s Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr. Wang Donghua officially handed over to Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu three completed sections of the 64 road segments throughout Tonga reconstructed with the loan.

He commended the initiative- the “National Road Improvement Project”- will assist the economic recovery of Tonga through safer and quicker access for business and customers, but also through the provision of jobs and activity by the project itself.

Mr. Wang says China has engaged in extensive road construction in the last thirty years, and was one of the key contributions to its economic development.

Tongatapu 10 Representative Semisi Tapueluelu inspects the parts of the project to his constituency

He says that like China, Tonga is a developing country.

About 130 km of roads throughout Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua is to be reconstructed using the loan, and set to be completed by 2013.

Wang says he hopes major infrastructure developments like the NRIP, will benefit Tonga as it did China.

Hon. Vaipulu responded, “The project will continue to foster the warm relations between the two countries. We are looking forward for closer and long term cooperation.”

“Poor help the poor”: $5m. Economic cooperation agreement signed with China

© Tevita Motulalo

Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano and PRC Ambassador to Tonga HE Wang Donghua, seal the agreement with a handshake at Foreign Affairs Office. Photo: PMO

A grant of $5.6 million (RMB 20 million) from China is to help the Tonga’s economic and technical development.

The grant is a token from China following His Majesty George Tupou V’s recent visit, according to China’s Ambassador to Tonga H.E. Mr Wang Donghua.

Vice-President Xi Jinping informed His Majesty that China is ready with assistance to economic development projects agreed upon by the two countries.

Examples of past such projects include direct military assistance to Tonga Defence, Fa’onelua Convention Centre, the reconstruction loan for the CBD, and reconstruction of Wellington-Ngu Hospital.

Other projects include Vaipua bridge reconstruction in Vava’u, Super health-centres at Mu‘a and Vaini, Tonga and Ha’apai High Schools construction and maintenance, and more than a hundred kilometres of road refurbishment and maintenance throughout the islands.

The “Agreement of Economic and Technical Cooperation” was signed by Prime Minister Lord Tu‘ivakano and H.E. Mr Wang at Foreign Affairs head office in Nuku’alofa last Friday.

Mr. Wang added, “The amount involved in the projects is not big but is genuine with our whole heart, and I perceive the cooperation between our two countries as the way in which friends help friends, and the poor help the poor.”

Minister warns Chinese of corruption

© Tevita Motulalo 

COMMERCE and Industries Minister Lisiate ‘Akolo summoned the Chinese business community to his office for a conference to discuss issues affecting the business sector, especially in light of recent revelations in the media of corruption involving the Chinese.

“I have to ask you to stop it. It doesn’t help any of us,” he said to the more than hundred business people attending.

He stated that about $20 to $30 million pa‘anga is lost in government revenue due to corruption.

“Using false invoicing, or double invoicing is illegal,” stated the Minister.

“Whether rightly or wrongly, many Tongan businesses perceive the Chinese as being corrupt,” he said.

More Chinese engagement in the Kingdom

© Tevita Motulalo

TWO separate delegations from China are in the kingdom, including a group of entrepreneurs here to scout investment possibilities in the tourism sector.

Chinese construction workers rebuilding Tungi Arcade in Nuku'alofa's CBD.

Last Thursday, the Tonga China Friendship Association, chaired by HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita welcomed the business group, accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, Wang Donghua.

According to the association’s Vice President Siosaia Moehau, “the visit is all about employment for [Tongans], through the attraction of jobs and investment [from China], as well as the increased friendly relations between Tonga and China.”

The delegation also looked into having direct flights from China to Tonga, bypassing South Pacific travel hub New Zealand.

There was discussion about the possibility of establishing a Chinese Investment Bank in Tonga.

Meeting with PM

Meanwhile, in a separate visit, the newly appointed director of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Chen Sicheng met with Lord Prime Minister Tu‘ivakano last Friday afternoon.

The visit was to familiarise Sicheng with his corporation’s clients – CCECC is the main contractor for the reconstruction of downtown Nuku‘alofa.

Sicheng is also the Managing Director of its Foreign Aid Division.

The two parties planned further visits and potential investment in the kingdom in the future.

- By Tevita Motulalo

Defence key to swaying Chinese policy, says new Ambassador

© Tevita Motulalo

New Tongan ambassador to China, Siamelie Latu.

FORMER Colonel at the Tonga Defence Services Siamelie Latu has departed for China to become Tonga’s Ambassador in Beijing.

He replaces Mahe Tupouniua, who returns to Tonga as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking to Tonga Chronicle just before departing on Wednesday morning, Latu was optimistic his experience and background will help him in his job.

“I have met a lot of high-ranking commanders and generals from the PLA while working at Tonga Defence and I hope those relationships will further cooperation,” said Latu.

“And it will. In China, if there is any policy lobbied for approval the most effective channel is their Defence. Once the Defence decides it goes, it does.”

Latu has served 33 years in the military, and is himself a graduate of the People’s Liberation Army’s National Defence University in Beijing.

He recently oversaw Tonga Defences’ Foreign Operations and Logistical (intelligence) Unit.

While military engagement between the two countries is likely to continue, Latu said he plans to dedicate a lot of time into facilitating business and investment between sectors of the two countries, “especially tourism”.