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WORLD NEWS Thursday 11 July 2019

China’s largesse in Tonga threatens future of Pacific nation

By NICK PERRY for a better life. In a country
Associated Press with few jobs, Tongans wor-
NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (AP) — ry that Chinese immigrants
The days unfold at a leisure- are now running most of
ly pace in Tonga, a South the corner groceries and
Pacific archipelago with are expanding their busi-
no traffic lights or fast-food ness interests into farming
chains, and where snuffling and construction.
pigs roam dusty roads. Wang acknowledges the
Yet even in this far-flung criticism that Chinese immi-
island kingdom, there are grants run many businesses
signs a battle for power but said Tonga’s leaders
and influence is heating recognize the contribution
up among much larger they make and have even
nations — and Tonga may called on Tongans to learn
end up paying the price. from their hard-work ethic.
Government officials work The real threat to Tonga’s
in a shiny new office block future may lie in its crippling
that was an $11 million loans from China.
gift from China. Dozens of Repayments were due to
bureaucrats take all-ex- start last year, and panic
penses-paid training trips crept in.
to Beijing each year. And Last August, Prime Minis-
China has laid out millions In this April 9, 2019, photo, China’s ambassador to Tonga, Wang Baodong, waits to speak to The ter ‘Akilisi Pohiva called on
of dollars to bring Tongan Associated Press at the embassy in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. other Pacific nations to join
athletes and coaches to a Associated Press forces to demand debt
training camp in China’s Si- country’s location useful. for its fisheries, seabed min- when future commitments relief, warning that China
chuan province. “I think Tonga is maybe erals and natural resources. are considered. could snatch away build-
“The best facilities. The a window to the Western China is also engaged in an Some worry the loans could ings and other assets. But
gym, the track, and a lot of side,” he said. “Because it’s ongoing effort to lure away become debt traps when he reversed his position
equipment we don’t have easy to get here and look the few remaining coun- nations can’t repay. days later, saying Tonga
here in Tonga,” said Tevita into New Zealand, Austra- tries that recognize Taiwan China’s ambassador to was “exceedingly grateful”
Fauonuku, the country’s lia.” instead of China — several Tonga, Wang Baodong, for China’s help.
head athletic coach. “The “It’s a steppingstone.” of them Pacific island na- said China has only benev- Tonga also said it was join-
accommodation: lovely, For decades, the South Pa- tions. olent intentions in Tonga ing China’s Belt and Road
beautiful. And the meals. cific was considered the “It’s not entirely clear what and no hidden agenda. Initiative, the trillion-dollar
Not only that, but China somewhat sleepy, back- China wants in the South “Some people in the West investment-and-lending
gave each and everyone yard of Australia, New Zea- Pacific,” said professor Rory are being over-sensitive program that is a signature
some money. A per diem.” land and the United States. Medcalf, the head of the and too suspicious,” he policy of President Xi Jin-
China also offered low- Now, as China exerts in- National Security College said. “No need.” ping.
interest loans after pro- creasing influence, West- at Australian National Uni- It’s not just money that is Tongan officials don’t seem
democracy rioters de- ern allies are responding. versity. “It’s just clear that flowing in from China. Chi- eager to discuss the rela-
stroyed much of downtown After Cyclone Gita de- China is becoming very nese immigrants began tionship with China, saying
Nuku’alofa in 2006, and stroyed Tonga’s historic Par- active and making its pres- arriving in the 1990s when all questions about China’s
analysts say those loans liament House last year, the ence felt.” Tonga started selling pass- loans and aid should be di-
could prove Tonga’s undo- government first suggested China has poured about ports. rected to Chinese officials.
ing. The country of 106,000 China might like to pay to $1.5 billion in aid and low- The idea was to attract Wang said there was no link
people owes about $108 rebuild it. Then Australia interest loans into the South wealthy Hong Kong resi- between Tonga getting a
million to China’s Export- and New Zealand stepped Pacific since 2011, putting dents hedging their bets break on its loans and join-
Import bank, equivalent to in and are now considering it behind only Australia, ac- ahead of the former British ing the Belt and Road Ini-
about 25 percent of GDP. jointly funding the project. cording to an analysis by colony’s return to China in tiative. He said Tonga had
Teisina Fuko, a 69-year-old Experts say the South Pa- Australian think-tank the 1997. raised concerns about the
former parliament mem- cific could be important to Lowy Institute. And that fig- Instead, they were snapped loan, and China was willing
ber, suspects China finds his China’s navy or coveted ure rises to over $6 billion up by rural Chinese looking to help.q