Copyright © www.matangitonga.to [2]

Tonga's Navy on Monday, September 6 put on a demonstration of the techniques they use to stop illegal vessels in Tongan waters, in a law enforcement boarding operation for cadets from the "Zhenghe" training ship of China's Peoples Liberation Army Navy.

Navy Commander Sione Fifita said that the exercise at the Touliki Navy Base saw Tonga Defence Service Navy officers demonstrating how they encountered and boarded illegal fishing vessels in Tonga waters in both situations where the intruders were cooperative or uncooperative.

He said the navy soldiers demonstrated body combat or martial arts, an integral part of their task in law enforcement boarding operations at sea. He said this was an area of training that China had provided for TDS Navy soldiers with the opportunity to learn martial arts in China.

"We have now got three instructors in the martial arts field after training in China," he said.

The demonstration was watched by 60 cadets from the "Zhenghe" who were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn from the Tongan demonstration.

The Navy Commander said the visit by the Chinese naval ships to Tonga offered a good exchange opportunity for TDS and PLA Navy cadets.

The program of the two ships continued this afternoon, when TDS officers toured the "Mianyang" and the "Zhenghe". Some PLA officers and cadets visited Mata'aho Kindergarten and donated toys.

Training in China

Second in Command of the TDS Capt Toni Fonokalafi said that since 1999 Tonga's diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China has developed into one of "friendship and warmth".

He said China had consistently been assisting TDS in three main areas of logistics support in the form of equipments, uniforms and trucks as well as training and high level visits by TDS to China.

Since 2000, over 20 TDS soldiers had undergone training in various programs such as martial arts, platoon leader in China. China's more recently has provided new trucks, uniforms and computers for the TDS.

PLA Navy's training ship "Zhenghe" and warship "Mianyang" arrived on September 3 on a first courtesy call to Tonga. The two ships depart Tonga on September 7, for New Zealand.