Chinese naval vessels carrying aid are set to arrive in Tonga on Thursday as Beijing shored up its disaster response efforts in the tsunami-hit Pacific nation following a coordinated response by its Western rivals.
A navy vessel carrying drinking water and food will arrive from Fiji on Thursday, while two military aircraft will also deliver 33 tonnes of emergency supplies including drinking water, food, tents, and walkie talkies, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said at a briefing late on Wednesday.
Beijing claimed it was the first to supply drinking water and food supplies to Tonga on January 19, although this could not be independently verified by Reuters. "The multinational approach by allies and partners to assist friends in need demonstrates our shared values towards regional stability and security," Navy Capt. Kyle Raines, the director of public affairs at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.
Tonga has close diplomatic ties with China and is one of the biggest Chinese debtors in the South Pacific, with its financial reliance dating back to loans taken more than a decade ago to rebuild its capital Nuku’alofa after riots.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Forza Horizon 5 is adding Chinese cars to celebrate the series' biggest launch in China - GamepurForza Horizon reached 15 million players two weeks ago, and it’s now been recognized as the biggest launch for the series in China.
Read more »
COVID outbreak reported on Australian aid ship bound for TongaA COVID outbreak on an Australian aid ship bound for Tonga has raised concerns about spreading the virus in the island nation, which has only reported one positive case ever.
Read more »
Tonga Eruption Was Equivalent to '100s of Hiroshima Bombs', Says NASAThe volcanic eruption in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga peaked on January 15 with more explosive force than 100 simultaneous Hiroshima bombs, NASA scientists reported on Monday 24 January.
Read more »
Anchorage’s Polynesian-American community pleading for donations for TongaAlaska’s Polynesian-American community is starting to hear from loved ones in Tonga more than a week after mother nature left a disastrous mark on the island, and locals with ties to the area are pleading for help.
Read more »
Relief efforts ramp up in Tonga, more aid arrivesHumanitarian aid to Tonga is ramping up after the airport was cleared of ash, making it safe for planes to land, the Red Cross said on Wednesday, days after a volcanic eruption and tsunami devastated the South Pacific archipelago.
Read more »
A Covid-stricken aid ship is heading for virus-free TongaMore than 20 Covid-19 cases have been identified aboard an Australian navy ship sailing to disaster-hit Tonga, complicating aid efforts to the virus-free Pacific island nation as Japan halted its relief mission due to a separate outbreak among crew members
Read more »