Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua

While Tonga's sovereignty and its right to make its own decisions is undeniable, but the wisdom of those decisions, surely, must be in harmony with our neighbours and the rest of the Western world that we are a part of.

Sovereignty is a sensitive issue and to wield it as a bargaining chip in an inter-dependent world does not look very good.

Tonga's confrontational reaction to advice from one of its closest and most-trusted friends, New Zealand – usually one of the first countries to offer a helping hand whenever we are in desperate need, came as a surprise, and is a reverse of the old saying “Tonga the Friendly Islands is a friend of all and an enemy of none”.

The issue of New Zealand withholding $10.5 million in tourism development funding, because Tonga has accepted a Chinese-made MA60 aircraft, that neither New Zealand nor the USA and other international aviation authorities have certified, has highlighted a trend among developing countries to accept new friends and to forget dear old friends.

To break this friendship code at this point of time could be very risky, as we Tongans are increasingly relying on our friends for jobs, and for tourists to revive our economy.

The MA60 aircraft safety certification issue is Tonga's problem.

Why doesn't Tonga transparently confirm from the Chinese manufacturer that they have fixed all the problems that have given the MA aircraft its poor safety record?

Tonga should also call on expert New Zealand and USA aviation engineers to have a look at this aircraft, and tell us what they think is wrong with it. The New Zealand's government's concern is not only for our own safety but also for their own nationals who will be visiting Tonga as tourists.

If we are counting on Chinese tourists coming to Tonga, replacing New Zealand, American and others whose advice bothers us, then we had better think again, because Chinese tourists will not come here in greater numbers just because we have a Chinese made aircraft.

The New Zealand Foreign Affairs has expressed concern over the aircraft, which Tonga's Minister responsible for Civil Aviation Hon. Samiu Vaipulu has said that Tonga will certify itself, in order to start operating the domestic inter-island service as soon as the plane is insured.

The fact that more than 50% of tourists who visit Tonga annually are from New Zealand, justifies the reaction by the New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Murray McCully in withholding a $10.5 million grant for tourism development in Tonga, because he does not want those tourists to put their life at risk by flying on an aircraft that has a history of malfunctions and crashes. He pointed out that certification is a matter for experts and not an area where politicians should be dictating the play.

The Tonga government's confrontational reaction to Murray McCully's decision by telling him to go and talk to the Chinese and that Tonga, a sovereign state, will certify the aircraft and allow it to fly, does not sound very accommodating.

The government should not forget that it is surviving on pledges of almost T$200 million of National Budget support from its friends and neighbors during the current financial year, and that it will need to hold out its hand for more next year.

On the other hand, the issue of Tonga's sovereignty was raised during the budget debate because 61% of Tonga's external debt is to repay its loans from the Exim Bank of China.