House stops Speaker's Taiwan visit [1]
Friday, June 27, 2014 - 15:13. Updated on Monday, June 30, 2014 - 13:29.
From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
Fearing that a visit to Taiwan might damage Tonga's diplomatic relationship with China, Tonga's Parliament has stopped its Speaker from attending this year's Asia Pacific Parliamentary Union (APPU) meeting in Taiwan.
The APPU 44th annual meeting is scheduled to be held in Taipei in August. Last year, the Speaker attended the APPU's annual meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
The Tonga Legislative Assembly has been a member of the APPU since 1988, and never fails to send parliamentaries to the APPU annual meetings.
The Acting Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu, who has represented Tonga to APPU meeting in the past, was this week more concerned about offending China.
After the APPU invitation letter was read in the House on Wednesday, 25 June he reminded MPs of Tonga's pledged support to China's "One China Policy."
The Acting Prime Minister expressed his concern that if the Tonga parliament accepted the invitation it could offend China
The fact that the APPU is a regional organization of which the Tongan Parliament is a legitimate member, outweighed the concern of the Acting Prime Minister and a majority of the members of parliament over the possibility that for the Speaker to go to Taiwan might annoy the Chinese.
Tonga's sovereignty
People's Representatives Dr Sitiveni Halapua, Sione Taione and 'Akilisi Pohiva queried the government's stance on Tonga sovereignty, and its right to send representatives to where ever it wanted to go.
'Akilisi did not think that the Chinese government cared whether or not Tonga sent a representative to Taiwan.
Dr Sitiveni Halapua told the House that the USA supports China's One China Policy, but it did not stop USA officials from visiting and doing business with Taiwan. He queried the government stance on Tonga's sovereignty, and its right as an independent country to send representatives to where ever it wanted to.
The Minister of Labour, Commerce and Tourism, Dr Viliami Latu, reminded the House that Tonga was in a different situation, because it is heavily relying on its aid donors.
The Speaker told the House that before he went to APPU Tokyo meeting last year he had a meeting with the Chinese Embassy and they did not object to Tonga attending the meeting, so long as they do not talk to the Taiwanese delegation.
After some vociferous exchanges between the Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, the Minister of Justice, Hon. Clive Edwards and some of the People's Representatives, the Speaker called for votes on three motions.
Motions
The first motion was for the House to consult the Chinese Embassy. That motion was rejected with 13-4 votes. Voting for the motion were, Sunia Fili, 'Isileli Pulu, Sione Taione and Falisi Tupou.
The second motion was for the Speaker to accept the invitation. Voting for the motion were 'Isileli Pulu, Sione Taione, Hon. 'Aisake Eke, Mo'ale Finau and two other members, 6-0.
The third motion was for the Speaker to turn down the invitation. It was carried with 12-0. For it were Hon. Siosifa Tu'utafaiva, Hon. Clive Edwards, Hon. Viliami Latu, Lord Ma'afu, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Lord Vaea, Hon. Fe'ao Vakata, Hon. 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki, Lisiate 'Akolo, Lord Fusitu'a, Lord Nuku and Lord Tu'iha'ateiho.