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02:27

Tonga still cut off from outside world after massive undersea volcano eruption

Tonga still cut off from outside world after massive undersea volcano eruption

China pledges aid to Tonga in wake of devastating volcano

  • Emergency relief including drinking water will arrive at the stricken Pacific Island nation ‘as soon as flight conditions allow’
  • Repairs to the Tongan undersea communications cable could take some time, the state-owned operator has warned
Diplomacy
China has pledged to deliver relief supplies to Tonga as soon as air traffic resumes following the devastating volcano eruption.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the Pacific nation had requested drinking water, food, personal protective equipment and disaster relief equipment, “which will arrive as soon as the local airport resumes operation and flight conditions allow”.

Zhao said the Chinese embassy in Tonga would continue to pay close attention to the situation of Chinese citizens and provide consular protection and assistance in a timely manner.

“At the same time, we also remind Chinese citizens in Tonga and neighbouring countries to pay close attention to the relevant early warning information and strengthen security precautions.”

Tonga has been largely cut off from the outside world since an underwater volcano erupted on Saturday, completely destroying one of its small outer islands and damaging its only undersea communication fibre optic cable.

The eruption also triggered tsunami warnings in some of the Pacific Rim countries including Japan, the US, Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand.

Some telephone networks within Tonga have been restored, and Australia and New Zealand are assisting with satellite calls but it could be some time before the undersea cable is back in operation.

Tonga Cable’s chairman Samiuela Fonua told media outlets that repair ships risked continuing volcanic activity, with the eruption site close to the main Tongan island of Tongatapu.

China’s state-owned Global Times urged the West to stop blocking projects, like the bid by Huawei Marine – now trading as HMN Technologies – to build an undersea cable connecting some of the Pacific island countries to Guam and the US.

New Zealand sends supplies to Tonga as island tries to remain Covid-free

That project was put on hold last year after a US “warning” to the nations involved. According to a Reuters report at the time, bids from all three companies which pitched for the job were deemed ineligible, after a security warning issued by the US over Chinese involvement.

In an opinion piece on Tuesday, the nationalist tabloid said Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies in recent years had been “actively pursuing infrastructure projects in Pacific island nations, of which the construction of submarine fibre optic cables is an important part”.

The article accused the West of blocking Chinese cooperation in the region because “they see the Pacific island nations as a place for competing for geopolitical influence”.







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